Technology News
Latest technology news and updates
Total: 2662
China Tests First Direct Link Between a Humanoid Robot and a LEO Internet Satellite, Paving Way for Net-Independent Field Autonomy
Chinese researchers report the first successful direct link between a humanoid robot and a low‑Earth‑orbit internet satellite, streaming robot vision data without ground network support. The test combines embodied robotics with phased‑array flat‑panel satellite technology, enabling potential autonomous operations in remote or infrastructure‑sparse areas while raising verification, security and dual‑use concerns.
China’s StepFun Taps Qianli Chief and Raises >RMB5bn to Push Foundation Models into Devices
StepFun has appointed Qianli Technology chairman Yin Qi as its own chairman and closed a B+ round exceeding RMB 5 billion to accelerate development of foundation models and commercialise AI on devices. The funding and leadership change underscore a strategic push in China to embed large models into cars, smartphones, wearables and robots through close hardware partnerships.
China Loses a Leading Chip Investor: Zhu Xudong, Architect of State‑Backed Semiconductor Deals, Dies Aged 62
Zhu Xudong, a veteran Chinese semiconductor investor and former Pudong science bureau chief who led state‑backed deals to build domestic chip capability, died suddenly at 62 while on a business trip. His passing leaves a practical leadership gap at a major investment vehicle and removes a seasoned architect of China’s strategy to translate state capital into industrial capacity in semiconductors.
China’s Robot Start‑Ups Take Center Stage: Two Embodied‑AI Firms Land Spots on the Spring Festival Gala
Two Chinese embodied‑AI start‑ups, Galbot and Magic Atom, have been chosen for prominent roles on the 2026 Spring Festival Gala, signalling a shift from technical demonstration to mass visibility. Galbot has secured large industrial orders and more than $300 million in financing, while Magic Atom — spun out of a Xiaomi‑linked robotics team — has shown rapid product development and fundraising momentum.
Samsung’s HBM4 Push Could Reset the High‑Bandwidth Memory Race — and Tighten Supply for AI Chips
Samsung plans to begin HBM4 production in February and has passed validation for Nvidia and AMD, signalling a sharper contest with SK Hynix for AI‑grade memory. The move could ease supply constraints for next‑generation GPUs, affect pricing and market share, and has contributed to a notable re‑rating of Samsung’s financial outlook.
Red-Envelope Arms Race: China’s Tech Giants Make Lunar New Year the Battleground for AI Entrypoints
Chinese tech giants are using traditional Lunar New Year red‑envelope campaigns to fight for dominance over consumer AI entry points, with Baidu and Tencent pledging hundreds of millions to a billion yuan in giveaways. These promotions aim to convert festival virality into long‑term control of AI interfaces and datasets, but they also carry high cost, regulatory and competition risks.
Tencent and Baidu Spray RMB1bn and RMB500m in Lunar-New-Year Red Packets to Push AI Adoption
Tencent has pledged RMB1 billion in Lunar-New-Year cash red packets via its Yuanbao app, and Baidu followed with a RMB500 million giveaway tied to its Wenxin AI assistant. The promotions are designed to drive engagement, accelerate AI adoption and cement payment and app ecosystems, but they carry costs and regulatory and long-term monetization risks.
Old Guard Returns: Yin Qi’s Dual Chairmanship and a RMB5bn Vote of Confidence Reshape China’s AGI Race
Yin Qi has been appointed chairman of StepFun while retaining the chairmanship of Qianli Technology, as StepFun closes a B+ round exceeding RMB5 billion. The move pairs deep foundation-model R&D with a hardware-centred commercialization strategy — notably automotive — and signals a new phase of consolidation and specialization in China’s AI landscape.
Samsung Doubles NAND Prices as AI‑Fueled Storage Supercycle Tightens Supply
Samsung has raised NAND flash prices by over 100% in Q1 2026 as AI‑driven demand for high‑performance storage outstrips supply. Analysts say the industry has entered a storage‑chip "supercycle," with tight capacity likely to persist until at least 2027 and meaningful new supply not expected until 2028.
Chinese AI Firm Defends Restaurant‑booking Calls as Machine, Not Human — But Skepticism Lingers
Qianwen has denied claims that its restaurant‑reservation calling feature is operated by humans, asserting the service uses a fast emotion and intent recognition engine to produce humanlike speech. The response underscores tensions between the operational benefits of voice automation and concerns about deception, privacy and regulatory oversight.
Veteran Investor Behind Shanghai’s Semiconductor Push, Zhu Xudong, Dies at 62
Zhu Xudong, founder and investment committee chair of a Shanghai industrial investment firm focused on semiconductor equipment and materials, died on 25 January 2026 at 62. His career bridged Pudong’s early development and China’s recent drive to build domestic semiconductor capability, and his death removes an experienced investor at a pivotal moment for the industry.
China’s Commercial Space Race Eyes 2026 as the Year of Reusable Rockets
At a Beijing forum, chief engineers from three leading Chinese commercial space firms unveiled competing plans to prove reusable rocket technology in 2026. Their strategies differ—batch production and engine upgrades, large kerolox modular rockets, and a dual small/large vehicle path—yet all target lower costs and higher cadence to serve satellite‑internet constellations.