Technology News
Latest technology news and updates
Total: 2662
China’s Humanoid-Robot Race Enters a Reality Check as Shipment Figures Spark Debate
A public clash over 2025 shipment figures between Chinese humanoid-robot maker Yush Technology and independent research firms highlights a sector moving from prototype to production. Discrepancies stem from differing definitions and data sources, but both industry reports and company statements point to rapid volume growth and a critical 2026 inflection point focused on real-world deployment, paying customers and robot ‘brains’.
IMF Chief: AI a 'Tsunami' for Jobs — Young and Entry-Level Workers Face the Brunt
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva warned at Davos that AI will act like a ‘tsunami’ for labour markets, affecting an estimated 60% of jobs in advanced economies and 40% globally. She said young people face the greatest disruption because many entry-level roles are being eliminated, and stressed that governance has not kept pace with technological change.
TikTok’s U.S. Deal: ByteDance Keeps the Algorithm, Washington Gets Oversight
TikTok unveiled a two-company U.S. structure that places data and content oversight in a new joint venture controlled by U.S. managers, while ByteDance retains control of the high‑value parts of the business and ownership of the recommendation algorithm. The arrangement aims to balance U.S. security concerns with ByteDance’s desire to keep its core technology and revenue streams, but it will face continued regulatory and political scrutiny.
Chinese Portable Battery Maker Says Its Units Powered Multiple Domestic Rocket Launches — A Sign of Maturing Support Industry
Huabao Xinneng says its Dian Xiao Er portable power units have supplied off‑grid electricity for multiple Chinese rocket launches and related operations and are compatible with Starlink‑type satellite terminals. The announcement underlines the growing importance of specialised ground‑support equipment as China’s commercial space activity expands, though the claim is promotional and not independently verified.
vLLM Founders’ New Startup Raises $150m Seed at an $800m Valuation — A Big Bet on LLM Infrastructure
Inferact, founded by the vLLM core team, raised $150 million in a seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz and Lightspeed at an $800 million valuation. The deal highlights investor enthusiasm for LLM inference and deployment infrastructure, but sets high expectations for rapid commercialisation amid fierce competition and regulatory questions.
vLLM Team's Inferact Secures $150m Seed at $800m Valuation, Signalling Fresh Bet on AI Inference Infrastructure
Inferact, founded by the creators of open‑source vLLM, raised $150 million in a seed round at an $800 million valuation led by Andreessen Horowitz and Lightspeed. The deal signals strong investor conviction in companies that can commercialize efficient LLM inference, but Inferact will face competition from cloud providers and specialized rivals as it seeks to translate open‑source credibility into enterprise revenue.
LandSpace Plans 2026 Push to Validate Zhuque-3 First‑Stage Reuse Across Flight Data, Recovery Tests and Routine Operations
LandSpace will pursue a three‑pronged 2026 programme to validate first‑stage recovery and reuse for its Zhuque‑3 rocket: flight‑data analysis on re‑entry aerothermal and structural issues, another recovery flight test tied to constellation launches, and work to normalise post‑recovery maintenance and reliability. Success would advance China’s private space sector toward higher cadence, lower‑cost launches, but scaling reuse into routine operations remains the critical challenge.
Young Tech Manager’s Sudden Death Reignites Scrutiny of China’s High‑pressure Start‑up Culture
A 32‑year‑old Guangzhou software manager collapsed and died after prolonged periods of excessive work following departmental reshuffles and understaffing. The company has applied for a work‑injury determination; local authorities are investigating as the case revives debate about long‑hours culture and labour protections in China’s tech sector.
Feeding the Machine: How AI’s Rise Depends on Low‑paid Labor and Vast Natural Resources
James Muldoon’s reporting reframes generative AI as a large‑scale extraction system that depends on low‑paid labour, unconsented creative material and vast energy and water resources. The phenomenon deepens global labour competition, concentrates managerial control, and risks reproducing Western cultural biases unless regulated.
At Davos, Musk Promises Optimus on Sale Next Year and Predicts AI, Robotaxis and Even Anti‑Aging Breakthroughs
At Davos, Elon Musk announced that Tesla plans to sell its Optimus humanoid robot next year and predicted widespread Robotaxi usage in the U.S., alongside broader claims that AI may surpass human intelligence and that humanity will eventually reverse ageing. The announcements compress ambitious technological roadmaps into near-term timelines, raising questions about feasibility, regulation and societal impact.
Alibaba’s Qianwen Moves Beyond Chat: One-Sentence Food Orders Signal a New Front in AI-Driven Commerce
Alibaba’s Qianwen AI has been upgraded into a transactional agent, enabling one-sentence food orders by routing natural-language intent to Taobao Flash Purchase agents. The feature marks a strategic pivot from chat to commerce, testing whether AI can become a reliable front door to instant retail within Alibaba’s ecosystem.
Intel’s CEO Concedes Yield Shortfalls as AI Demand Outpaces Supply
Intel CEO Chen Liwu admitted on the Q4 2025 earnings call that the company has not fully met skyrocketing AI-driven demand because product yields are below his expectations. Intel has pledged to make yield improvements a top priority in 2026, but the admission triggered a sharp market reaction and raises competitive and supply-chain risks.