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As if the takeout business weren’t enough to fuel tensions between <a href="/company/jd">JD.com</a> and <a href="/company/meituan">Meituan</a>, their rivalry has now extended into embodied <a href="/industry/ai">artificial intelligence</a>, with both companies investing in <a href="/industry/robotics">robotics</a> startups to gain an edge.
Following earlier reports by 36Kr on Meituan’s investments in X Square Robot and Galaxea AI, two emerging players in the embodied intelligence space, JD has countered with a flurry of moves. After backing Agibot in its Series B funding round, it has made new bets on two more companies: Spirit AI and Engine AI.
Spirit AI recently closed a pre-Series A+ round, raising nearly RMB 600 million (USD 84 million), led by JD. Other investors include the China Internet Investment Fund, Zhejiang Provincial Financial Holdings, Huatai Zijin Investment, and Fosun RZ Capital.
Meanwhile, Engine AI has secured close to RMB 1 billion (USD 140 million) across two rounds. JD led its Series A1 round, which also drew participation from CATL-affiliated Puquan Capital, Yintai Group, Fortune Capital, Tsinghua Holdings Capital, and Huangpu River Capital. Rockets Capital, founded by <a href="/company/xpeng">Xpeng</a>, led the earlier pre-Series A++ round.
While Spirit AI and Engine AI both operate in the same field, their focus areas and capabilities differ.
Spirit AI was co-founded by Han Fengtao, former CTO of Rokae, and Gao Yang, an assistant professor and doctoral advisor at Tsinghua University’s Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences. The company focuses primarily on embodied foundation models, though it is also developing physical robot hardware. Its proprietary vision-language-action (VLA) model, “Spirit v1,” was recently upgraded to enable robots to perform a range of office tasks, from tidying desks and repositioning chairs to taking out the trash.
Engine AI, by contrast, is more grounded in hardware development. It integrates traditional motion control with reinforcement learning to build full-stack embodied systems, including components for motion, force, planning, vision-language navigation, and localization. The company has already developed a product lineup that spans bipedal and full humanoid robots.
JD and Meituan are now charting distinct paths in the sector.
JD has invested in Agibot, Engine AI, Spirit AI, and Xianglu Technology. Meituan, meanwhile, is pursuing a dual-track approach to embodied intelligence, backing companies focused on robot “brains” such as X Square Robot and Galaxea AI, as well as body-focused manufacturers like Unitree Robotics and Galbot. More recently, Meituan also joined the investor lineup for Tars, another startup gaining traction in the space.
JD’s interest in embodied AI aligns closely with its e-commerce and logistics operations, but its ambitions extend beyond external investments.
In March, JD established a dedicated embodied AI unit, bringing on Shen Hui, a former vice president at SenseTime, to lead the effort. The company has also mobilized internal teams to pursue advanced R&amp;D in this area.
In July, JD launched the JoyInside platform for robotics, aimed at consolidating its years of work in intelligent interaction, particularly in customer service, digital avatars, and shopping assistance.
According to JD, the JoyInside platform features emotionally intelligent dialogue, consistent speech-action behavior, and flexibility across different robot types and use cases. The company plans to co-develop “brains” with human-like conversational abilities in partnership with hardware manufacturers, aiming to improve human-machine interaction.
JoyInside has already been integrated into several robots, including the MagicDog Pro quadruped robot, the NIA-FO1 humanoid robot, the egg-shaped Xuanji robot, the Yuanluobo chess-playing robot, and Engine AI’s PM01.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3386941825007107">article</a> was written by Qiu Xiaofen for 36Kr.

JD.com and Meituan take their rivalry from takeout to humanoid robots

JD.com

East Asia

China

Artificial Intelligence

Deep Tech

Embodied Intelligence

<blockquote>China Recap is a weekly roundup tracking Chinese companies expanding abroad, covering market entries, funding rounds, product launches, and global partnerships.</blockquote>
China’s corporate globalization strategy is evolving fast. Industry giants are rewriting the global playbook, while a new generation of companies charts fresh paths overseas.
China Recap tracks both—focusing on strategic expansion, brand building, and localized operations—to help readers make sense of shifting trends and understand how Chinese firms are reshaping their global approach.
Here’s what made headlines last week:
<h3>China’s AI sector is back in the saddle</h3>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Sales of <a href="/company/nvidia">Nvidia’s</a> H20 chips to China are expected to resume under a US trade deal involving rare earth exports, according to US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick. The move has drawn bipartisan concern over potential support for China’s <a href="/industry/ai">artificial intelligence</a> sector, as firms like <a href="/company/tencent">Tencent</a> reportedly prepare orders. —<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/nvidia-resume-h20-gpu-sales-china-2025-07-15/">Reuters</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Chinese AI startup <a href="/company/minimax">MiniMax</a> is reportedly closing a nearly USD 300 million funding round that would push its valuation above USD 4 billion. Founded by former SenseTime executive Yan Junjie, the company recently launched its<a href="https://kr-asia.com/minimax-finds-its-aha-moment-and-a-way-to-challenge-the-ai-status-quo"> MiniMax-M1 foundation model and multimodal agents</a>. The company declined to confirm the raise, and is also said to be nearing a Hong Kong IPO. —<a href="https://www.21jingji.com/article/20250715/herald/0c78cb8e4aefa9d2e44accb8d41e9f15.html">21st Century Business Herald</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">AMD is likely to resume shipments of its MI308 chips to China after US authorities agreed to review license applications, reversing earlier export curbs. The move follows similar approval for Nvidia’s H20 chip and could soften the USD 800 million hit AMD had previously projected. —<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-15/amd-says-it-will-restart-mi308-sales-to-china-after-us-review">Bloomberg</a></li>
</ul>
<h3>WeRide debuts driverless buses in Singapore</h3>
WeRide has begun fully autonomous minibus operations at Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa, becoming the first in Southeast Asia to deploy shuttles without onboard safety operators. The launch follows regulatory approval, extensive safety testing, and what the company says were thousands of successful trial trips.
<h3>China pilots yuan expansion in Africa</h3>
China is using Africa as a testing ground to expand the Chinese yuan’s global role, signing recent deals in Egypt and South Africa on currency swaps, lending, and access to CIPS, Beijing’s alternative to SWIFT. Analysts say the region’s reliance on China trade and dollar scarcity makes it a practical site for early-stage pilots. —<a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3318388/china-looks-africa-testing-ground-global-roll-out-yuan">SCMP</a>
<h3>GAC to debut Aion EVs in UK market</h3>
<a href="/company/gac">GAC Group</a> has signed a joint venture deal with Jameel Motors, marking its official entry into the UK market. The partners plan to launch the Aion V and Aion UT <a href="/industry/ev">electric vehicle</a> models, with deliveries expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026. —<a href="https://www.jiemian.com/article/13044421.html">Jiemian News</a>
<h3>Trendyol, Ant explore Turkey fintech venture</h3>
Trendyol, Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar, ADQ, and <a href="/company/ant-group">Ant International</a> have agreed to jointly explore a fintech venture in Turkey offering payments, loans, insurance, and more. Aimed at individuals and small businesses, especially Trendyol sellers, the initiative will blend <a href="/industry/e-commerce">e-commerce</a> infrastructure with AI-driven tools. The venture is pending regulatory approval. —<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trendyol-baykar-ceo-adq-ant-international-develop-fintech-platform-turkey-2025-07-16/">Reuters</a>
<h3>ChaPanda opens two stores in Singapore</h3>
Chinese tea chain ChaPanda officially debuted in Singapore on July 18, opening outlets at *Scape and Northpoint City. To mark the launch, the brand rolled out promotions including buy-one-get-one drinks, city-themed merchandise, scratch card giveaways, and more.
whereRelatedArticle
<h3>Apollo Go joins Uber in global push</h3>
<a href="/company/baidu">Baidu</a> and Uber have formed a multiyear partnership to deploy Apollo Go autonomous vehicles across select markets outside the US and mainland China. The first rollouts are expected in Asia and the Middle East later this year, giving Uber riders the option of fully driverless rides via Baidu’s fleet.
<h3>TikTok seeks talks to avoid Canada shutdown</h3>
<a href="/company/tiktok">TikTok</a> is pushing for talks with Canadian officials to avoid a shutdown of its local operations, warning it may need to lay off staff and halt investment. The company has proposed a Canada-specific data security plan but said it has yet to receive a government response. TikTok employs 350 people in Canada and serves around 14 million users. —<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-14/tiktok-urgently-pitches-canada-security-solution-before-shutdown">Bloomberg</a>
<h3>Romoss execs flee to Malaysia amid recall</h3>
Five key executives from Chinese power bank brand Romoss have reportedly fled to Malaysia after the company suspended operations following a <a href="https://kr-asia.com/chinas-power-bank-crisis-romoss-collapse-exposes-industry-fault-lines">large-scale product recall</a>. Insiders claim profits were siphoned off, leaving little cash to manage the fallout. The shutdown affects all but recall-related staff for six months. —<a href="https://www.sinchew.com.my/news/20250713/international/6691869">Sin Chew Daily</a>
That wraps up this edition of China Recap. If your company is expanding internationally, we’d love to hear about your latest milestones. <a href="mailto:changweiqian@global.36kr.com">Get in touch</a> to share your story.

China Recap | Back in the AI saddle

Southeast Asian countries are moving closer to the European Union (EU), seeking a reliable trade partner in the face of steep tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen reached a political agreement on July 13 to move ahead on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA). A finalized deal is expected in September.
"We would like to see more European presence and more European participation in our economy," said Prabowo during a joint press conference.
Under the deal, tariffs would be eliminated for 80% of Indonesian exports to the EU within one or two years of the agreement coming into effect, according to the Indonesian government.
Indonesia's exports to the EU would increase by an estimated 58% within three years of the agreement going into force, government projections show, boosting the country's gross domestic product by 0.19 percentage points.
Indonesia began CEPA negotiations with Europe in 2016, but talks stalled as the two sides struggled to reach a compromise on trade controls and environmental measures. US President Donald Trump's so-called "reciprocal" tariffs were the catalyst that has since accelerated the talks.
Indonesia faces a 32% tariff from the US, which accounts for 11% of the country's exports, making it the second biggest importer of Indonesian goods after China.
With a slowdown in exports to the US looming, engaging with the EU has become a key priority. The bloc is Indonesia's fifth largest export market, taking in 7% of the country's goods.
The EU mainly imports palm oil, copper ore and rubber products from Indonesia. The trade deal with the EU will be a critical driving force amid rising uncertainty in the global economic landscape, said Airlangga Hartarto, Indonesia's coordinating minister for economic affairs.
Southeast Asian countries have struggled to strike tariff deals with the Trump administration. As of July 9, the initial deadline for negotiations, only a few countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia have been able to reach agreements to reduce the duties.
The rate declared for Thailand remains at 36%, while tariffs targeting Malaysia and the Philippines were recently raised to 25% and 20%, respectively.
The EU accounts for 9% of all exports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), making it the ten-member bloc's third largest market outside of the region after China and the US However, Vietnam and Singapore are the only ASEAN members to have struck trade agreements with the EU.
Other ASEAN countries are engaging in trade negotiations with the EU to diversify export destinations.
Thailand completed its sixth round of trade agreement talks with the EU at the end of June, and has indicated plans to conclude the negotiations by the end of the year.
"Given the global geopolitical and economic uncertainties, Thailand and the EU reaffirmed their commitment to being reliable and predictable trade partners," said then-Thai commerce minister Pichai Naripthaphan at the time of the latest talks in Bangkok.
The EU is Thailand's fourth largest trading partner. Trade agreement negotiations between the two began in 2013, but stalled following the Thai military's takeover of the government. Talks resumed in 2023.
Malaysia announced in January that it would resume negotiations on a trade deal with the EU. The first round of talks took place from late June to early July.
Malaysia had suspended negotiations in 2012 due to disagreements over EU measures affecting palm oil suppliers. The Philippines also resumed talks with the EU in October 2024, with plans to conclude a deal by 2027.
The EU is rapidly diversifying its trading partners and supply chains, amid the isolationist moves of the US and ongoing economic security threats posed by China.
"We're living in turbulent times, and when economic uncertainty meets geopolitical volatility, partners like us must come closer together," said Von der Leyen at July 13's joint press conference.
ASEAN has set a goal of becoming the world's fourth largest economic bloc by 2045. The EU has also repeatedly expressed its willingness to expand cooperation with Japan and other member states of the "Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement" (CPTPP).
The EU seeks to work together with trading partners not only on mutual tariff reductions but also on creating new rules for freer trade. The US tariff policy appears to be sparking a movement to establish a world order for trade that leaves out the US.
This article first appeared on <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade-war/Trump-tariffs/Trump-tariffs-push-Indonesia-Thailand-toward-trade-deals-with-EU">Nikkei Asia</a>. It has been republished here as part of 36Kr’s ongoing partnership with <a href="https://www.kr-asia.com/nikkei-teams-up-with-36kr-in-asia-tech-news-coverage/">Nikkei</a>.

Trump tariffs push Indonesia, Thailand toward trade deals with EU

Singapore

Malaysia

Thailand

Vietnam

Indonesia

Philippines

Southeast Asia

Europe

… robots, are most parts off-the-shelf or custom?</h3>
CJ: We don’t customize parts ourselves as it’s too costly. But we do deep internal design, right down to the motor. Our motors, gears, control boards, and drivers are all self-designed. We own the blueprints.
<h3>36Kr: In factory settings, what jobs can’t be replaced by robots yet? And what if one day they all can?</h3>
CJ: In theory, any repetitive line task can be replaced, but it's still hard right now.
If they are eventually replaced, it will cause massive social change. But I think that’s a good thing. Robots can take over the dirty, dangerous, and dull jobs that young people no longer want.
That frees people up to do more meaningful work while improving efficiency. Everything gets cheaper.
Robots themselves will become a new kind of consumer endpoint. Somewhere between smartphones and cars in scale. In five years, families might start owning one or two robots for service or companionship.
<h3>36Kr: What does this latest funding round mean to you?</h3>
Chen Jianyu: It’s about preparing for the future. Competition will get fierce, even though commercialization has barely even started.
Today’s funding in robotics is tiny compared to electric vehicles or large models. But eventually, we’ll need manufacturing and AI capabilities on a much larger scale. We’re just early.
<h3>36Kr: How soon before robots are common in the home?</h3>
CJ: Gradually. In three to five years, you’ll probably see early forms in high-net-worth households.
For the mass market, requirements will be stricter. We’ll need something affordable and highly generalizable.
<h3>36Kr: Haier and Midea have talked about robotics for years. How do you view large corporations in this space?</h3>
CJ: It’s always competition and cooperation. With internet giants, we can be a hardware supplier. With traditional manufacturers, maybe we’ll provide software.
<h3>36Kr: Every carmaker has an autonomous driving team. Now many are looking at end-to-end architectures. Will the automotive industry pivot to robotics?</h3>
CJ: Robotics is a natural extension of smart vehicles, but not all will make the leap.
Big companies are careful with new bets. Right now, their investments are small, roughly on par with ours in terms of personnel.
<h3>36Kr: LLMs have converged around a few major players. Will robotics follow the same pattern?</h3>
CJ: No. Robotics is more fragmented.
LLMs are universal. Release one and everyone can use it instantly. It centralizes power.
Robots are hardware. They are messy, local, and diverse. That makes the market wide open, and more forgiving. There will be many players.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3369771506779912">article</a> was written by Qiu Xiaofen for 36Kr.

More than a hardware play: Robot Era’s founder sets the record straight on the company’s true ambitions

… extended-range hybrid cars are gaining consensus as a viable transition path, there’s no such agreement in commercial vehicles. We may end up with a mix of powertrains coexisting: diesel, electric, hybrid, biofuel, and more.
<h3>36Kr: Based on your years of global experience, what are some common pitfalls automakers encounter when expanding overseas?</h3>
ZS: First is market understanding. When I started in Europe, the EV penetration rate for light commercial vehicles was zero. Going from zero to 10% took years of persistence and client education. It’s exhausting work.
Second is underestimating the regulatory landscape. Emissions standards, market entry thresholds, and carbon tracking rules vary widely by country. In 2016, China was still at “Euro IV,” while Europe had already moved to “Euro V” and then quickly to “Euro VI.” You could invest heavily in a compliant product only to find your competitive advantage eroded. Even after you enter, you’re subject to tight emissions management. The EU set a cap of 200 grams per kilometer. Go over that by even one gram, and the fine is EUR 95 (USD 112). Today, battery recycling requirements add another layer of complexity.
Third is the competitive environment. Chinese brands may move fast, but local players often dominate through protectionist practices. Bidding specs may be written to match a domestic brand’s product exactly, leaving no room for outsiders. Long-term relationships and closed networks are hard to break into. Even with a better product, the resistance can be significant.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3371568951431685">article</a> was written by Shi Yi for 36Kr.

As China’s commercial vehicle market slows, Gecko Motors shifts gears abroad for growth

Transportation

Logistics

Electric Vehicles

Mobility

… infrastructure provider, has secured RMB 200 million (USD 28 million) in a Series A+ funding round led by CDH Venture &amp; Growth Capital and the Beijing Artificial Intelligence Industry Investment Fund. Taiya Investment, Xiangcheng Financial Holdings, SCCI, and Merit Interactive also participated. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/3380983322732549">36Kr</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Westlake Intelligent Vision Technology, a developer of hyperspectral imaging systems, has raised over RMB 50 million (USD 7 million) in a pre-Series A funding round backed by Oriental Fortune Capital. The funds will be used to expand its product portfolio, production capacity, and market reach. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/3378581938149896">36Kr</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Yarbo, a robotics company focused on snow-clearing equipment, has secured over RMB 100 million in a Series B+ funding round. The backers include CAS Investment, CICC Capital, and Joyoung’s venture arm. Yarbo will use the funds for R&amp;D, supply chain upgrades, and international expansion. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/3365586762041096">36Kr</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">MetaInk, an electronic materials company, has closed a pre-Series A funding round worth an eight-figure RMB sum. Addor Capital was the sole investor. The proceeds will help strengthen the company’s working capital and drive customer acquisition. MetaInk is focused on high-end electronic paste materials used in resistors, capacitors, and RF components. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/3374222105025027">36Kr</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Fuzflo, the developer behind the <a href="https://www.leapility.cn/">Leapility</a> platform, has raised an eight-figure RMB sum in an angel financing round led by Qizhao Capital. The company is targeting the transformation of business expertise into agentic AI workflows, emphasizing customizable tooling for vertical industries like manufacturing, logistics, and retail. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/3374207112435975">36Kr</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.sdrive-tech.com/">SDrive</a>, a smart suspension system provider, has raised a nine-figure RMB sum in Series A funding. The round was co-led by Senior and several industrial investors. Tongji University's tech fund also joined. The capital will support the development of third-generation fully active suspension systems and establish a new production facility with an annual capacity of 500,000 sets. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/3373315588396804">36Kr</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.treatgut.com/">TreatGut</a>, a pioneer in gut microbiome therapies, has secured over RMB 100 million in strategic funding led by Kinghall Ventures. The company has spent nearly a decade developing microbiota transplantation treatments and aims to scale its commercialization efforts. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/3372527610008327">36Kr</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="http://www.sycsense.com/en.html">Sycsense Technology</a>, a flexible sensor maker, has closed a pre-Series A funding round, raising an eight-figure RMB sum. The round was led by China Merchants Venture, with Ambrum Capital and Bojay Electronics joining. The capital will go toward product development and market expansion for its electronic skin and flexible sensors. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/3365575385384964">36Kr</a></li>
</ul>
whereRelatedArticle
<h3>Sxored, Shieldbase, Transcelestial, and more made recent headlines:</h3>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Sxored, a Jakarta-based credit tech startup, raised an undisclosed amount from East Ventures.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://shieldbase.ai/">Shieldbase AI</a>, a Singapore-based startup developing an enterprise AI operating system, secured new funding from GenAI Fund and First Move, with participation from Tenity and a group of angel investors.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://transcelestial.com/">Transcelestial</a>, a laser communication tech startup, raised a new round of investment co-led by NTT Finance and Paspalis Capital. Other investors include Golden Egg Ventures, In-Q-Tel, David Wilson (Tyr Ventures), Beyond Earth Technologies, and Non Public.</li>
</ul>
If there are any news or updates you'd like us to feature, get in touch with us at: <a href="mailto:hello@kr-asia.com">hello@kr-asia.com</a>.
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Deals in brief: Augmentus raises Series A+ funding, Coda to acquire Recharge, Origgin Capital debuts second fund, and more

Venture Capital

Private Equity

Investment

Merger &amp; Acquisition

Australia

India

Oceania

Video game developers in Asia are racing to apply <a href="/industry/ai">artificial intelligence</a> technologies to their characters to give users more intuitive interactions and immersive experiences.
Krafton of South Korea is working with US giants like <a href="/company/nvidia">Nvidia</a> and <a href="/company/openai">OpenAI</a>, while Chinese players including Novaserene Entertainment and <a href="/company/netease">NetEase</a> are powered by <a href="/company/deepseek">DeepSeek</a>, which surprised the world with its advanced yet affordable large language model <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Artificial-intelligence/DeepSeek-crashes-Nvidia-stock-with-prospect-of-cheaper-AI">early this year</a>.
Krafton, South Korea's biggest game developer by market value, says it has installed a small language model (SLM) into its new simulation game, enabling characters to act and respond naturally to various situations.
"We made such a game for the first time in the world as it can respond and act naturally to various situations in a game by installing an SLM," Lee Kang-wook, head of the company's deep learning division, said in a recent interview.
Krafton decided that its games would run on users' computers rather than on the cloud to save on costs and energy, Lee said, which meant compressing huge amounts of data to a manageable size. Chipmaker Nvidia helped the company resolve the technical challenges of this approach, he added.
"So, we are very proud of this, and Nvidia is also pleased with the project," Lee said. "I always tell the team that we are writing the history of video games."
The Seoul-based company said that the characters in its life simulation game InZoi released in March respond dynamically to real-time events based on their "personality," creating unique and more immersive experiences. The approach appears to be a popular one, as the game sold more than 1 million copies in its first week after launch, according to the company.
whereRelatedArticle
But despite a successful debut, Lee said he was still anxious about how quickly Chinese players are chasing the company. "There are many Chinese companies which are doing very well. We're always on our toes."
Novaserene is one of them. When ChatGPT was released in November 2022, veteran Chinese game producer Zhao Tongtong was stunned by its potential to transform the way games are made and played. Zhao left his mobile gaming company and launched Novaserene in 2023.
The Beijing-based startup backed by <a href="/company/ant-group">Ant Group</a> is integrating AI into its games. For example, non-player characters (NPCs) whose movements and speech were previously pre-programmed can now be driven by AI algorithms, enabling them to respond to the virtual environment like real humans.
Such complex interactivity was "nearly impossible to simulate" with logic-based coding, said Zhao, but is increasingly becoming a reality with AI technology.
"We're aiming for the ultimate goal. We hope to create a 3D game world where, powered by AI, your virtual characters can behave just like real people," he said. "And beyond just the characters, we want the entire environment to respond dynamically. … All of it should move closer and closer to reality under AI's guidance."
Novaserene joins major Chinese game developers in the race to adopt AI technology, especially after DeepSeek boosted confidence in using homegrown AI for various applications. NetEase has introduced NPCs powered by DeepSeek and other AI models in its multiplayer game Sword of Justice. The company recently announced that an international version of the title will be released outside China.
The rush to apply AI to games, however, may turn into a race to stand still. Charlie Chai, an analyst at 86Research, said AI features may eventually become commonplace for major new titles, negating any "edge" that using the technology might have yielded. The cost savings from generative AI are currently limited as well, as the "majority of game development work is still beyond the competency of current technology."
Krafton, meanwhile, is testing how far AI tech can be applied beyond the computer screen.
Lee, who is also a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the AI tech used in games can be extended to the robot industry by giving physical forms to characters developed and tested in games.
"If we replace the virtual bodies of characters in games [with physical forms], it's the same as robots. So I am thinking of leveraging this technology into smart robots with AI later," Lee said. "I'd like to take this well-working brain [out of game characters] and put it in a different body and imagine what other synergies there might be."
This article first appeared on <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Asian-game-developers-use-AI-to-breathe-new-life-into-characters">Nikkei Asia</a>. It has been republished here as part of 36Kr’s ongoing partnership with <a href="https://www.kr-asia.com/nikkei-teams-up-with-36kr-in-asia-tech-news-coverage/">Nikkei</a>.

Asian game developers use AI to breathe new life into characters

Gaming

Creative

South Korea

… play in your longevity work? Do you believe group gatherings are the best way to change human behavior at scale?</h3>
BJ: Yes, I do. Think ahead to 2035. With AI advancing so quickly, life may be unrecognizable. By then, people might look back at 2025 in disbelief at the everyday habits that raised our risk of death, like smoking, drinking, or consistently staying up late.
Just like how we now look back on slavery with disbelief, future generations might view our health habits the same way.
So when we come together as a community today, we’re announcing the start of a new era of being human.
For thousands of years, society defined achievement by wealth, power, or fame. Now, we’re proposing something new: that existence itself is the highest virtue.
Health isn’t just a tool to get somewhere else. Life itself is the prize.
<h3>YX: Your anti-aging project is now a system. You have a community, supplement kits, and now you’re opening clinics in Beijing. Can you share your commercial roadmap?</h3>
BJ: Our first longevity clinics will be in Beijing and Chongqing. We chose these cities because our Chinese partner, Huapeng Group, has deep expertise in healthcare. They already have medical infrastructure and teams in place.
Next, we’ll expand to more cities across China and Europe.
<h3>YX: If instead of USD 300 million, you had USD 3 billion, which anti-aging fields would you invest in? What areas seem most promising?</h3>
BJ: There are many exciting therapies in development. I’m friends with the founders of Google, Sam Altman, and Jeff Bezos. What they are building is incredible, but it’s also a huge responsibility. As those therapies mature, we’ll introduce more options and of course, in full compliance with Chinese laws.
Our value is being at the frontiers: bringing the best, most effective longevity protocols to the public.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3368725155809282">article</a> was written by Yang Xuan and Hai Ruojing for 36Kr.

Bryan Johnson: The man trying to engineer longevity into the human condition

Biotechnology

Even as the US eases restrictions on advanced chip exports to China, <a href="/industry/ai">artificial intelligence</a> companies may find it difficult to ignore the persistent uncertainty over when regulations might shift again. Among them is Manus.
Earlier this month, Manus shut down most of its China-based operations, laying off dozens of team members before relocating its global headquarters to Singapore, according to <a href="https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_31133555">The Paper</a>. Butterfly Effect, the company behind Manus, remains based in China, per <a href="https://www.zaobao.com.sg/finance/singapore/story20250618-6864600">Lianhe Zaobao</a>. It’s also hiring for offices in San Mateo, California and Tokyo.
Best known for building an autonomous AI agent that attracted international attention, Manus now operates out of Singapore, a city-state that has, in recent years, styled itself as a neutral ground both geopolitically and technologically.
The move isn’t just about talent or taxes. Manus’ leadership appears to have made a judgment call: for a startup with global ambitions, especially one operating in a sector as politically charged as AI, the risks of staying anchored in China were starting to outweigh the advantages.
Access to high-end chips was a major factor. In April, the US government expanded its export controls, restricting China’s access to top-tier processors including <a href="/company/nvidia">Nvidia’s</a> A100, H100, and Blackwell series, as well as AMD’s MI300 and MI400 lines. The restrictions were intended to slow China’s progress in developing advanced AI by limiting access to key computational hardware.
There has been some softening. This month, US trade officials reportedly granted Nvidia permission to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/nvidia-wins-ok-to-resume-sales-of-ai-chip-to-china-after-ceo-meets-trump-68f55d71">resume limited exports to Chinese firms</a>, specifically of its H20 chips, a technically downgraded alternative to its restricted models. AMD is also said to be <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-15/amd-says-it-will-restart-mi308-sales-to-china-after-us-review">preparing shipments of its midtier MI308 processors</a> following the policy shift.
Still, for Manus and other companies, the takeaway is clear: policy reversals can occur with little warning. Even with workarounds, access to state-of-the-art hardware remains unstable for firms based in China. For any startup competing globally, that kind of unpredictability is a liability.
Singapore offers a more stable environment. It provides easier access to chip supply channels, has friendlier trade relations with the West, and maintains a regulatory system that aligns more closely with global investor expectations. Just as importantly, relocating reduces the perception risk of being viewed as a “Chinese AI company,” a label that can complicate partnerships in markets like the US and Europe.
That said, scrutiny remains. Early this year, US authorities investigated whether Chinese firms such as DeepSeek had acquired advanced Nvidia chips via Singapore as a means of circumventing export restrictions.
Manus has not publicly elaborated on its move, but multiple reports suggest the company’s primary motivation was to reduce exposure to tightening regulations in China and insulate itself from broader geopolitical risk.
Relocation also brings Manus into closer alignment with its investors. Backed by Benchmark, a US-based venture capital firm, the company benefits from positioning itself in a jurisdiction that avoids the complications often associated with Chinese affiliations. For global VCs, especially those navigating US limited partner concerns or foreign ownership rules, a Chinese headquarters can raise logistical and reputational challenges. Singapore, by contrast, offers a more neutral footing. By redomiciling there, Manus avoids these pitfalls and could position itself as a more attractive prospect for follow-on funding.
Manus may be the most visible recent example, but it isn’t the only one. <a href="/company/tiktok">TikTok</a>, for instance, established its Asia headquarters in Singapore, partly in response to regulatory pressure. Under heightened scrutiny in Washington over its Chinese ownership, the company has invested in campaigns to bolster its credibility: hiring US-based executives, pledging to segregate data, and even considering spinning off its American operations to avoid a national ban.
TikTok’s ongoing challenges offer a cautionary tale. For younger China-born startups, the calculus is simpler: it’s easier to relocate early than to unwind operational structures and rebrand under duress. TikTok and Douyin may now be technically separate entities, but to observers, they may seem closely linked, distinguished more by language and market than by substance.
It’s too soon to know how much Manus’ move will shield it from the geopolitical friction it aims to sidestep. What is clear, however, is that other China-born startups may consider similar moves. Not necessarily in name, but in structure, by establishing overseas headquarters or split operations to keep strategic options open. Not every company is as focused on China’s domestic market as <a href="/company/baidu">Baidu</a>, and increasingly, that’s understandable.

Has China become too risky a home for AI startups? Manus thinks so