With the field of humanoid robots gaining significant momentum, Bay Area-based Figure has secured a staggering $675 million in Series B funding, bringing its valuation to $2.6 billion. This impressive feat is even more remarkable considering the company’s infancy, having launched in 2022 with an ambitious goal of building a walking bipedal robot within a...
eVTOL Urban Travel: Shenzhen to Zhuhai in 20 Minutes On February 27, the world witnessed the first public demonstration flight of an inter-city, inter-sea electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft route. This groundbreaking event connected the cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai in China’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The new route reduces travel...
Apple CEO Tim Cook made a bold statement during the company’s annual shareholder meeting, promising “break new ground” in the field of generative AI (GenAI) this year. This announcement comes on the heels of the company’s reported decision to abandon its long-running electric vehicle project, with some former EV staff now reassigned to GenAI initiatives....
In a move that surprised many, Apple announced the cancellation of its long-running “Project Titan” – the company’s ambitious effort to develop an autonomous electric car. The news was delivered to employees in a brief meeting on Tuesday, leaving hundreds facing potential layoffs as work on the project comes to a complete halt. According to...
China’s video game industry received a welcome shot of confidence in February as the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) greenlit 111 new titles for domestic release. This follows approvals for 115 Chinese titles in January and 32 imported games earlier in the month. This recent wave of approvals comes after a turbulent period for...
In a significant setback for the US Justice Department’s efforts to combat intellectual property theft by China, a Chinese chip maker, Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co., has been cleared of economic espionage and other criminal charges. Following a non-jury trial, US District Judge Maxine M. Chesney in San Francisco found Fujian Jinhua not guilty. This...
In a move echoing recent trends across the tech industry, Sony announced on Tuesday that it is laying off around 900 employees, or 8% of its global workforce, within its PlayStation division. The company also plans to close its London Studio in the UK. PlayStation chief Jim Ryan, in a note to employees, explained the...
Tech companies in China are actively collecting resources and skilled individuals in order to close the gap with OpenAI. Interestingly, researchers on both sides of the Pacific Ocean share similar experiences. A recent post from an Alibaba researcher provides a unique insight into the process of building Large Language Models at the e-commerce company. This...
Inkitt, a self-publishing platform with a bold vision, believes in using artificial intelligence (AI) to transform promising stories into bestsellers and build a multimedia empire around them. The company’s approach involves allowing users to self-publish stories on their app, then leveraging AI and data science to identify the most captivating ones for further development and...
Chinese automaker BYD, a major force in the electric vehicle (EV) market, has sent shockwaves through the industry with the audacious introduction of the U9, its revolutionary electric supercar. This bold move marks BYD’s entry into the high-performance EV segment, challenging established players and showcasing the company’s potential to push the boundaries of electric car...