Seventeen-year-old Xiaoxue describes her boyfriend Xiaojun as a “sweet guy”. The pair spend hours each day talking about schoolwork, interactions with friends, and how she is feeling. And importantly, she trusts Xiaojun not to cheat on her — as an ex-boyfriend did. But Xiaojun is not human — he is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) companion…
With its new architecture and capabilities, the next generation of Apple Intelligence powers helpful features across the system, simplifying the things users do every day. China’s cyberspace regulator has officially registered Apple’s on-device generative AI service, Apple Intelligence, for use in the country. This marks a significant step toward the long-awaited launch of the feature…
Anthropic has accused Alibaba of reverse-engineering its AI models to mimic their capabilities through a process known as ‘distillation’. (NurPhoto pic) BEIJING: A Chinese industry regulator warned users on Wednesday of a “security backdoor” embedded in versions of US artificial intelligence company Anthropic’s coding tool, Claude Code. The alleged backdoor could allow the software to…
For decades, warnings of Hong Kong’s terminal decline have arrived in periodic waves. When Stephen Roach, the former chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, ignited a firestorm with his February 2024 assertion that “Hong Kong is over”, he pointed to a toxic cocktail of domestic and external pressures. Roach, who doubled down on his “wake-up call”…
Bankers working for JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong must have been miffed when they were shut off from using artificial intelligence (AI) models from Anthropic, a pioneering American firm in the field. Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase pulled the plug in April and last week respectively, based on a strict interpretation of…
Beijing believes the internet giants’ aggressive price-cutting campaign could push retailers across China into losses, potentially undermining the economy. BABA led the declines, falling 5.3%; the stock has declined sharply in recent months due to a host of factors. China’s State Administration for Market Regulation summoned executives from the firms over what officials said was…
Pentagon has added several major Chinese companies, including electric vehicle giant BYD, technology company Alibaba and search engine Baidu, to its list of Chinese military companies. The move, announced in a Federal Register post dated June 9, 2026, prevents the above stated companies from receiving US defense contracts and marks a broader effort by Washington…
The US on Monday added Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, internet search provider Baidu, and automaker BYD to a list of companies it believes are aiding Beijing’s military, in a move that could inflame tensions between the countries. The long-awaited update supersedes a list from early 2025 and comes less than a month after US President…
Published Tue, Jun 9, 2026 · 08:57 AM [WASHINGTON] The US on Monday (Jun 8) added Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, Internet search provider Baidu and automaker BYD to a list of companies it believes are aiding Beijing’s military, in a move that could inflame tensions between the countries. The long-awaited update supersedes a list from…
Ultra-low-priced Hong Kong tour packages reliant on commissions and pushing mainland Chinese visitors to make additional purchases remain prevalent despite tighter government regulations, the South China Morning Post has found. The business model has come under renewed scrutiny after the Travel Industry Authority revoked the licences of a travel agency and its tour guide over…