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… dominated by Chinese companies. With China’s supply chain and market advantages, I saw an opening.
<h3>36Kr: Your team is young. How do you attract experienced veterans like your chief scientist, Wang Hesheng?</h3>
YF: It’s about complementarity. A group of veterans working together will still follow veteran playbooks. We bring energy and sensitivity to the frontier of technology. The veterans bring industry experience and resources. Together, the combination creates powerful chemistry.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3442158373475968">article</a> was written by Fu Chong for 36Kr.

Hotels may be the first stop for humanoid robots, says Unix AI founder

Robotics

Deep Tech

Embodied Intelligence

China

<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.
This edition highlights China’s advances in artificial and <a href="/industry/embodied-intelligence">embodied intelligence</a>, as humanoid robots move toward commercialization and <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> infrastructure and applications expand in function and capacity.
<h3>Meituan debuts agentic AI app for food delivery</h3>
<a href="/company/meituan">Meituan</a> has launched Xiaomei, an app powered by its LongCat large model, to strengthen its food delivery and local services. Xiaomei uses AI agents to let users order meals by voice and book restaurants. Shares rose in Hong Kong after the rollout, which comes as <a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba</a> and <a href="/company/jd">JD.com</a> escalate competition in China’s delivery market. —<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-12/meituan-launches-ai-agent-to-boost-food-delivery-business">Bloomberg</a>
<h3>UBTech secures "world’s largest" robot order</h3>
UBTech Robotics has won a RMB 250 million (USD 35 million) contract for its Walker S2 humanoid robots, which it described as the "world’s largest order" of its kind. Deliveries will begin this year, and the deal includes operational support services. The Hong Kong-listed firm did not name the client. —<a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/business/china-tech/china-s-ubtech-wins-35m-order-for-industrial-humanoid-robots">Nikkei Asia</a>
<h3>Alibaba, Baidu reduce reliance on Nvidia</h3>
Alibaba and <a href="/company/baidu">Baidu</a> have reportedly begun using self-designed chips to train AI models, partly replacing <a href="/company/nvidia">Nvidia</a> hardware. Alibaba has applied its chips to smaller models, while Baidu is testing its Kunlun P800 for Ernie. The shift reflects US export curbs and Beijing’s push for tech self-sufficiency, though both firms still rely on Nvidia for top-tier models. —<a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/alibaba-baidu-adopt-ai-chips-major-shift-chinese-tech">The Information</a>
<h3>Ant Group unveils first humanoid robot</h3>
<a href="/company/ant-group">Ant Group</a> has unveiled its first humanoid robot, R1, at a Shanghai tech conference, highlighting its shift toward AI-powered robotics. Designed to handle tasks from cooking to medical assistance, the R1 runs on Ant’s in-house large model and reflects its strategy to scale AI assistant use across China. —<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-11/jack-ma-backed-ant-showcases-first-entry-in-china-s-robot-race">Bloomberg</a>
<h3>China narrows AI gap with US</h3>
China has reportedly narrowed its gap in AI development with the US to about three months, driven by rapid iteration, open-source model advances, and strategic chip reserves, according to CITIC CLSA. However, it still lags in advanced semiconductor production, which remains a longer-term hurdle that constrains progress in cutting-edge AI capabilities. —<a href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3324931/china-narrows-ai-development-gap-us-remains-behind-advanced-chips-clsa">SCMP</a>
whereRelatedArticle
<h3>China’s Unitree eyes RMB 50 billion IPO</h3>
Unitree Robotics is reportedly preparing to file for an IPO in the final quarter of 2025, targeting a valuation of up to RMB 50 billion (USD 7 billion). Already profitable and active in factory deployments, Unitree could become one of the first humanoid robotics firms to go public. —<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/09/chinas-unitree-plans-7-billion-ipo-valuation-as-humanoid-robot-race-heats-up.html">CNBC</a>
<h3>ByteDance launches Seedream 4.0</h3>
<a href="/company/bytedance">ByteDance’s</a> Seed team has released Seedream 4.0, a multimodal AI model for text-to-image generation and editing. It supports 4K output, faster inference, visual signal control, and in-context reasoning. Now live via Dreamina, Doubao, and Volcano Engine, the unified system has shown notable performance across creative tasks.
<h3>Tencent’s CodeBuddy IDE goes global in open beta</h3>
<a href="/company/tencent">Tencent</a> has released its AI CLI tool, CodeBuddy Code, and launched the global open beta of CodeBuddy IDE. The move positions Tencent Cloud as China’s first provider to support AI-driven coding across plugin, IDE, and CLI formats. Developers can use natural language in the terminal to automate tasks like refactoring, testing, and deployment. —<a href="https://www.ithome.com/0/881/526.htm">IT Zhijia</a>
<h3>Alibaba Cloud leads investment in X Square Robot</h3>
Alibaba Cloud has led a RMB 1 billion (USD 140 million) Series A+ funding round for Shenzhen-based X Square Robot, marking its first investment in embodied intelligence. Other investors that took part include CAS Investment, China Development Bank Capital, HongShan, Meituan, and Legend Capital. The funds will support training of foundation models and hardware development. —<a href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3324780/alibaba-cloud-leads-us140-million-funding-round-embodied-ai-start-x-square-robot">SCMP</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 | AI and robots take center stage

… href="https://www.kr-asia.com/nikkei-teams-up-with-36kr-in-asia-tech-news-coverage/">Nikkei</a>.

China's BYD expands Japan sales network to promote brand trust

East Asia

Transportation

Electric Vehicles

Mobility

Japan

… supply chain, and cost constraints, trading price for volume is not necessarily the best path.
<h3>Squeezed from both ends</h3>
Today, the L series is squeezed from both ends. In the lower tier, rivals copy Li Auto’s family-oriented, range-extended concept and launch similar products at more aggressive prices. In the premium market, competitors keep layering business, lifestyle, and identity onto their offerings, moving beyond the range extender and family angle.
Even so, Li Auto still holds the sweet spot in the midprice family SUV market in terms of product, user base, and reputation.
What it needs now is a transfusion: a new product thesis and the technical firepower to mint the next blockbuster.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3449382721164935">article</a> was written by Xu Caiyu for 36Kr.

Li Auto loses its sales crown as Huawei and rivals crowd the EV market

… tools evolving in the AI era?</h3>
ZY: The internet never has a final medium, only evolving ones. AI dissolves media boundaries: text, images, and video can transform seamlessly into one another. A research paper could instantly become a video explainer, while a conversation could be distilled into structured notes.
The shift will move from efficiency to alignment with human needs. Speed without regard for perception or context is meaningless. The future lies in tools that capture insights from conversations, add references, and help solve real problems.
In three to five years, I want Zhihu to serve as “information and trust infrastructure.” Not just a place to find answers, but a medium where credibility is embedded and users can quickly gauge reliability. That is the foundation we aim to build in the AI era.
<figure id="attachment_157258" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-157258" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-157258" src="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Zhihu-Zhida.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="346" srcset="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Zhihu-Zhida.jpg 2000w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Zhihu-Zhida-720x389.jpg 720w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Zhihu-Zhida-1024x553.jpg 1024w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Zhihu-Zhida-768x415.jpg 768w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Zhihu-Zhida-1536x829.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-157258" class="wp-caption-text">Zhihu’s Zhida platform (pictured) features a chatbot-style interface with AI-powered search and answer capabilities. Image source: Zhihu.</figcaption></figure>
<h3>KrASIA: And how do you plan to make that happen?</h3>
ZY: Three steps.
First, enhance AI-powered search by combining retrieval techniques with deeper interpretation.
Second, build a multi-format knowledge base that supports text, audio, and video.
Third, roll out features that integrate AI-driven tools directly into the community, expected by the end of this year.
Stay tuned.
<figure id="attachment_157259" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-157259" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-157259" src="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Zhihu-AI-Models.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="360" srcset="https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Zhihu-AI-Models.jpg 1920w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Zhihu-AI-Models-720x405.jpg 720w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Zhihu-AI-Models-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Zhihu-AI-Models-768x432.jpg 768w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Zhihu-AI-Models-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Zhihu-AI-Models-480x270.jpg 480w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-157259" class="wp-caption-text">Zhihu plans to deepen its use of AI, both in knowledge sharing and platform integration. Image from an undisclosed source.</figcaption></figure>
This article was published in partnership with <a href="https://zhihu.com/">Zhihu</a>.

After three profitable quarters, Zhihu says its trust-first model is paying off

Creative

Content

… not markup. We want zero accidents. For example, the <a href="https://kr-asia.com/maextro-s800-huaweis-audacious-bid-to-win-the-luxury-ev-market">Maextro S800</a> has a front-facing LiDAR unit, in addition to two side units and one at the rear.
Loading LiDAR tech on the rear, for instance, can improve parking safety. Cameras and ultrasonic sensors have limitations. Cameras produce flat images without depth, and ultrasonic radar lacks accuracy. A rear-mounted LiDAR unit can provide centimeter-level precision, helping the system distinguish between a harmless wall fixture and a protruding pipe, preventing collisions.
We’ve even seen cases where cars reversed into farmland because the system failed to recognize terrain depth. With solid-state LiDAR, the system can detect pits and prevent accidents. These needs come directly from user scenarios.
We’re not adding sensors just for show. It’s all about making assisted driving safer, whether in parking, urban driving, or on highways.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3441062507550088">article</a> was written by Fan Shuqi for 36Kr.

“Nothing is free”: Huawei’s Richard Jin on assisted driving and the path to Level 4 autonomy

Autonomous Vehicles

… who can achieve productization first.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3455885992875650">article</a> was written by Fu Chong for 36Kr.

Swipe, type, take a pulse: Dexcel’s Apex Hand mimics human dexterity to the fingertips

… Young founders now build biotech startups with energy, using databases and artificial intelligence to replace manual, experience-driven systems.
<h3>36Kr: Is Biokin adapting too?</h3>
ZY: Absolutely. My physics background makes me value cutting-edge tools and quantitative methods. They uncover biology’s underlying logic efficiently.
In China, our team does “one to 100.” Since 2011, we’ve mostly hired fresh graduates from schools like Peking University, Tsinghua University, the University of Science and Technology of China, and Sichuan University. We train them year by year.
In the US, our subsidiary does “zero to one,” at the frontier. We recruit young scientists from top labs, not industry veterans. I’m usually the oldest there.
<h3>36Kr: Have they met your expectations?</h3>
ZY: Yes. Today, both our biology and chemistry leads came straight from school and grew with us. They share my work ethic. We light up when talking about innovation.
We’re cautious about following trends quickly. It has value in China’s ecosystem, but at Biokin, no one dares suggest “copying what others did.” If someone does, we mock them. Our ethos is: do something different.
<h3>36Kr: Why insist on being different?</h3>
ZY: As a student, I was always top of the class. Becoming a scientist was my dream. Innovation is in my bones. I don’t just think; I act. And when I do, I want to make it count.
<h3>36Kr: How close is Biokin to achieving that “making it count” goal?</h3>
ZY: We’re climbing. In five years, we’ll build the framework of an MNC. In ten years, we’ll reach full scale. At my current intensity, I can handle another decade. Beyond that, if I still have the energy, I’ll keep going.
<h3>36Kr: What does an MNC framework mean?</h3>
ZY: It comprises four pillars: global-leading early R&amp;D in at least one field, global clinical development, a global supply chain resilient to geopolitics, and global commercialization.
Of these, commercialization abroad is our gap. Domestically, we’ve proven commercial strength since our days in generics. But in the US, we’ve yet to show it.
<h3>36Kr: What’s the plan to build global commercialization?</h3>
ZY: We’ve already started. A core team of three to five is working on strategy. By 2028, when BL-B01D1 is expected to launch in the US, we’ll have a full overseas clinical and commercial team of about 2,000.
<h3>36Kr: What are you missing now?</h3>
ZY: Five years, and money.
Overseas trials cost far more. In China, one patient may cost RMB 300,000 (USD 42,000). In the US, it’s USD 300,000. That funding gap means we must raise capital.
<h3>36Kr: What’s the fundraising outlook?</h3>
ZY: We recently closed a RMB 4 billion private placement on the A-share market. Over the next two years, we’ll likely receive USD 500 million in near-term milestone payments from BMS.
We paused our Hong Kong IPO plan. Yes, money can be raised in Hong Kong, but at what valuation? We insist our stock is worth what it’s worth. We’ve always been extremely responsible to shareholders and will not dilute their value.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3432080546221697">article</a> was written by Hu Xiangyun for 36Kr.

The “richest man on the Star Market” wants more than wealth: Biokin’s chairman sets sights on MNC status

Biotechnology

… href="https://www.deep-material.com/">Deep Material</a>, a novel materials company, has completed a Series A round worth an eight-figure RMB sum. Heshijia Capital and Aurora Private Equity invested. The funding will support R&amp;D, automated lab upgrades, AI model development, and the exploration of new applications. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/3454804405949832">36Kr</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://en.dgbc.net.cn/">DG Broadtrum</a>, a provider of electromagnetic space security solutions, has raised an eight-figure RMB sum in a pre-Series A round from an undisclosed investor. Established in 2014, the company develops spectrum management and counter-drone technologies. The new funds will be directed toward core technology upgrades, product expansion, and enlarging its headquarters. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/3453453406230149">36Kr</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://en.metalenx.com/">MetaLenX</a>, a lens design and manufacturing company, has raised an eight-figure RMB sum in a Series A+ round. Xiaomi, Shunwei Capital, Chengmei Capital, and Shanghai Angel Group co-invested. Founded in 2020, the firm is building mass production lines for superlenses, expanding its infrared lens capacity, and pushing into visible light applications. —<a href="https://36kr.com/p/3453207894005380">36Kr</a></li>
</ul>
whereRelatedArticle
<h3>RushOwl, iEduGPT, Bang Jamin, and more made recent headlines:</h3>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://rushowl.app/">RushOwl</a>, a Singapore-based ride-sharing platform, raised USD 10 million in a Series A round led by Gobi Partners, with Hong Kong Investment Corporation as a partner.</li>
<li aria-level="1">iEduGPT, an edtech startup, raised USD 10 million in a seed round backed by New Wheel Capital, Baywise Capital, SWC Global, Uphonest Capital, K3 Ventures, and Welight.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Bang Jamin, an Indonesia-based digital insurance platform, raised USD 4 million in a pre-Series A round co-led by Braxton Capital and SBI Ven Capital, with participation from BNI Ventures and BRI Ventures.</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: SGInnovate leads investment in Greenitio, Living Roots and LineWise raise funding, eight deals in China, and more