Chinese robotaxi firms Pony AI and WeRide are accelerating global roll-outs of commercial fleets. This expansion leverages cost competitiveness derived from the country’s world-leading new energy vehicle supply chain. Improved operational efficiency also supports these efforts, company executives said. Credit: PONY.AI China’s new energy vehicle supply chain has helped reduce the total cost of Pony AI’s upgraded seventh-generation robotaxi. This cost, including the base vehicl

DeepSeek has significantly reduced the prices of its artificial intelligence (AI) models, including its latest V4 offering, which now costs 97% less than comparable OpenAI products. This strategic move aims to attract more enterprise clients, developers, and agent-based users.

China ordered U.S. tech giant Meta to unwind its acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus on Monday, a deal valued at more than USD 2 billion. This directive comes as Beijing intensifies scrutiny of foreign investment in domestic startups developing frontier technologies.

Microsoft and OpenAI have renegotiated a key agreement, allowing the artificial intelligence startup to forge new deals with rivals to the software and enterprise giant, including Amazon. This significant change to one of the AI era's most consequential alliances is expected to benefit both organisations.

A Sichuan-based engineering influencer has unveiled a colossal remote-controlled robot arm, weighing 5,000 kilograms (5.51 tons), which he used to impact a Volvo XC70. The influencer, Fan Shisan, operates the YouTube account "Sword man Fan 13."

Shenzhen’s robotics industry achieved record output in 2025, rising 20% year on year to exceed 242 billion yuan (USD 35.4 billion). The city has cemented its position as China’s leading robotics powerhouse due to a sophisticated supply chain and a wide range of real-world applications.

AI-generated short dramas featuring animals and absurd narratives are gaining massive traction across Asia and beyond, with millions of viewers tuning into micro-series on platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu. These dramas, often under a minute long, are captivating audiences with their over-the-top storytelling and unexpected twists.

Figure, a humanoid robot company, has seen its robot deliveries double each month for the last three months. This follows the shipment of approximately 150 units last year. Credit: FIGURE CEO Brett Adcock shared this data on Threads, though specific figures were not explicitly provided on the chart. Deductions suggest shipments may have reached around 60 units in Feb. 2026, 120 in Mar. 2026, and 240 in Apr. 2026. This growth indicates Figure is beginning to scale production o

Huawei plans to significantly increase investment in smart-driving research and development, committing more than USD 10 billion over the next five years to enhance computing power for training. The Chinese technology firm will invest 18 billion yuan, equivalent to USD 2.6 billion, globally in smart-driving R&D this year. Credit: HUAWEI This year's R&D investment includes 10 billion yuan, approximately USD 1.46 billion, specifically for computing power. Senior Vice President

Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has adopted a cautious tone regarding the rollout of the company's fledgling robotaxi business, an update described by several Wall Street analysts as uncharacteristically downbeat. The expansion of Tesla’s autonomous ride-hailing operation is proceeding more slowly than previously outlined by Musk.