Technology News
Latest technology news and updates
Total: 2614
Tencent Welcomes Apple’s Commission Cut in China as a Win for Developers and Platform Openness
Tencent praised Apple’s recent adjustment to App Store commission policy in China as a boost for openness and developer innovation, attributing the move to regulatory pressure. The change could improve margins for major developers like Tencent, reshape app‑store economics in China, and test how Apple offsets lost services revenue.
China to Upgrade BeiDou In Orbit, Seeking Higher Accuracy and Greater Resilience for Its GNSS
China has announced on‑orbit upgrades to the BeiDou navigation satellite system to boost accuracy, resilience and service flexibility without launching replacement satellites. The initiative reflects a push toward software‑defined satellites and will have civil, commercial and strategic implications for users and international GNSS competition.
How OpenClaw’s “Agent” Rush Is Rewiring AI Hardware — and the Race to Build Devices That Can Think
OpenClaw, an open self‑hosted agent framework, is driving a wave of Chinese hardware and software firms to embed autonomous, on‑device AI agents that can perform multi‑step workflows across apps and peripherals. The shift elevates on‑device models, local compute and hardware permissions to new strategic priorities while raising security and governance questions.
Mass Exodus at xAI as Musk Brings in Cursor Engineers to Double Down on AI Coding
xAI is in the midst of a dramatic restructuring: several founding engineers have left or plan to depart while Elon Musk recruits product engineers from Cursor to accelerate Grok’s programming capabilities. The moves reflect a shift from research leadership to product execution under pressure from internal reorganisation and SpaceX’s broader commercial timeline.
Apple Lowers App Store Fees in China After Talks with Regulators
Apple will lower App Store commissions in mainland China from 30% to 25% on paid apps and in‑app purchases, and from 15% to 12% for qualifying small developers and mini‑apps, effective 15 March 2026. The adjustment follows talks with Chinese regulators and requires no new developer consent, reflecting Apple’s effort to accommodate regulatory concerns while preserving its business model in China.
Google’s Groundsource: AI that Turns Public Clues into Historical Disaster Maps — and Raises New Questions
Google has introduced Groundsource, an AI method that converts public information into structured historical disaster records, initially targeting urban flash floods. The tool could improve risk modelling and preparedness in data‑poor settings but raises concerns about coverage bias, data quality and governance.
China’s Robam Debuts ‘AI Cooking Glasses’ at AWE — A Smart‑kitchen Play with Bigger Ambitions
Robam introduced AI cooking glasses at AWE 2026 powered by its vertical culinary model “Shishen,” signalling appliance makers’ shift into AI‑driven services. The device exemplifies trends toward domain‑specific AI and connected kitchen ecosystems, while raising practical, privacy and regulatory questions that will shape adoption.
Midea’s MevoX Pushes Smart Homes from Remote Control to Cognitive Spaces
Midea unveiled MevoX, a self‑evolving home intelligence agent, and pledged over RMB 60 billion to AI and embodied intelligence over three years. The company is targeting two persistent technical gaps—reasoning (inference) and memory—to move smart homes from device control to proactive, context‑aware spaces, while signalling a strategic pivot from hardware sales to platform and service revenue.
BMW Backs Away from Level‑3 Autonomy in China — A Tactical Retreat, Not a Surrender
BMW has postponed plans to introduce Level‑3 autonomous driving in China, citing unresolved technical, regulatory and reputational risks. The move highlights the gap between prototype capability and safe, scalable deployment, and reshapes competitive dynamics between cautious incumbents and aggressive local challengers.
Leyard Tests MicroLED Optical Modules with CAS as a Low‑Power Alternative for AI Data Links
Leyard has supplied MicroLED optical module prototypes to the Chinese Academy of Sciences as part of a research collaboration exploring low‑power co‑packaged optics for AI data links. The technology promises steep energy savings relative to copper but remains at an early, uncertain validation stage with significant manufacturing and integration challenges.
China’s Commercial Launch Calendar Tightens as State and Private Reusable Rockets Gear Up for 2026
China has set first‑flight windows for two reusable rockets in 2026: the state-backed CZ‑12B in the first half of the year and private SQX‑3 by year‑end. Both programmes aim to lower launch costs and increase cadence to meet demand from large low‑Earth‑orbit constellations, but technical risks — especially stage recovery — remain a key hurdle.
Tencent’s SkillHub Sparks Dispute with OpenClaw Founder Over Scraping and Sustainablity Costs
OpenClaw’s founder accused Tencent of scraping skills from ClawHub into the company’s new SkillHub, saying the activity raised his server costs and amounted to appropriation without support. Tencent replied that SkillHub is a localized mirror that credits ClawHub, cited launch-week traffic figures and said its team includes upstream contributors and potential sponsors.