AI in Asia: News, Analysis & Insights
AI developments across Asia - from DeepSeek to autonomous driving
Fei-Fei Li raises $1B: World Labs wants to bring AI from chat into the real world
Fei-Fei Li raises $1B: World Labs wants to bring AI from chat into the real world Fei-Fei Li, known in the industry as the “Godmother of AI,” has raised $1 bill
Robot fake in India: university excluded from AI summit
Robot fake in India: university excluded from AI summit An Indian university was kicked out of the prestigious AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on Wednesday. A pro
China’s AI stocks explode: MiniMax +25% in one day, +400% since IPO
China’s AI stocks explode: MiniMax +25% in one day, +400% since IPO China’s AI firms take huge post listing gains MiniMax surged as much as 30% in Hong Kong bef
Disney Sues ByteDance for AI "Raid"
Disney Sues ByteDance for AI "Raid" ByteDance's AI video generator Seedance 2.0 caused a stir last week: Users generated videos of Tom Cruise against Brad Pitt,
ByteDance Develops Own AI Chip with Samsung
ByteDance Develops Own AI Chip with Samsung ByteDance headquarters in Beijing ByteDance wants to break free from the shackles of US sanctions and dependence on
LimX raises $200m to push embodied AI into the real world
LimX raises $200m to push embodied AI into the real world Source: LimX Dynamics Website The Shenzhen-based embodied AI startup LimX Dynamics has raised around $
KKR targets Singapore’s data centers: $10bn bet on AI infrastructure
KKR targets Singapore’s data centers: $10bn bet on AI infrastructure A KKR-led consortium is nearing the acquisition of ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GD
Sakana AI
Sakana AI Japan’s bold AI bet Tokyo-based Sakana AI feels like Japan quietly re-entering the global AI race on its own terms. Founded by former Google Brain res
Korea’s memory kings: Samsung and SK Hynix shatter all records
Korea’s memory kings: Samsung and SK Hynix shatter all records The AI boom is pushing South Korea’s chip giants to historic profits. SK Hynix has overtaken Sams
China’s AI capital is concentrating: StepFun raises $720M
China’s AI capital is concentrating: StepFun raises $720M Shanghai-based AI startup StepFun, founded in 2023, has raised over 5 billion yuan (~$720M) in a Serie
🚽 AI flushes billions into toilet maker Toto’s coffers
AI flushes billions into toilet maker Toto’s coffers Clean business—in both industries The Japanese toilet manufacturer Toto is known for heated toilet seats an
🎬 Video-AI-Boom: Kling AI hits $240M ARR and pushes Kuaishou +84%
Video-AI-Boom: Kling AI hits $240M ARR and pushes Kuaishou +84% Consumer AI with real traction: Kuaishou’s video generator Kling AI has 60 million users worldwi
📱 Why your next phone will cost 20% more
Why your next phone will cost 20% more It’s all his fault: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang The AI revolution has a problem: there isn't enough memory for everyone. The
🇨🇳 China reviews Meta’s $2bn Manus deal
China reviews Meta’s $2bn Manus deal Deal under scrutiny: China’s Ministry of Commerce is reviewing Meta’s >$2bn acquisition of Chinese AI agent startup Manus f
That’s how many bankers in Singapore are being upskilled for AI.
That’s how many bankers in Singapore are being upskilled for AI. Bootcamp over layoffs: DBS, OCBC and UOB have set a clear goal for the next one to two years: n
Manus
Manus Manus in the spotlight For over $2 billion, Meta is acquiring Manus , a Chinese-founded AI startup now headquartered in Singapore. Launched in March 2025,
That’s the export volume of South Korea in 2025.
That’s the export volume of South Korea in 2025. Record year for trade: With this milestone, South Korea broke the US$700 billion mark for the first time. Expor
❤️ AI Love: China stops emotional manipulation
️ AI Love: China stops emotional manipulation It's not just young people seeking emotional connection online. China's internet regulator CAC is drawing a red li
🇨🇳 China’s AI startups kick off Hong Kong’s 2026 IPO year
China’s AI startups kick off Hong Kong’s 2026 IPO year MiniMax at warp speed: The Shanghai startup is on track for what could be the world’s fastest AI IPO—just
🚀 China’s AI gold rush: 700% gains – but not for you
China’s AI gold rush: 700% gains – but not for you Stock prices of newly listed AI companies are exploding on the Shanghai exchange ( see Market Bit ). But for
🧨 +55,000% without a factory: how a rebrand created India’s hottest AI stock
+55,000% without a factory: how a rebrand created India’s hottest AI stock Shut up and take my money… Rally without a business: RRP Semiconductor surged more th
🐎 Is SoftBank betting on the wrong AI horse?
Is SoftBank betting on the wrong AI horse? $65B Power Play: SoftBank has raised over $64B via retail bonds, nearly 42% of Japan’s entire market. The money flows
This is how many AI server racks Foxconn can now build per week.
This is how many AI server racks Foxconn can now build per week. ️ AI factories running hot: Scaled up, Foxconn’s AI racks could accommodate up to 1.5 million G
🧋 Bubble talk temporarily fizzles out: AI giants post billion-dollar profits
Bubble talk temporarily fizzles out: AI giants post billion-dollar profits Shenzhen: The Engine Room of China’s Big Tech AI heavyweight Nvidia blew past all Q3
BONE AI
BONE AI South Korea’s defense industry is booming. Billion-dollar orders, full factories, big names. Now Bone AI is joining the field. Bone AI is working simult
💸 US sanctions make China’s AI chip star super rich
US sanctions make China’s AI chip star super rich US export bans on high end chips were meant to slow China’s AI ambitions. Instead, they created a new billiona
👋 Bye Bye Nvidia: SoftBank goes all-in on OpenAI
Bye Bye Nvidia: SoftBank goes all-in on OpenAI BFF: Masayoshi Son and Sam Altman AI Cash Check: SoftBank sold its entire Nvidia stake for USD 5.83 billion and r
🤖 Human or machine? XPENG stuns with humanoid robot
Human or machine? XPENG stuns with humanoid robot At its AI Day in Guangzhou, XPENG left the audience speechless. The EV maker unveiled its new humanoid robot I
🔩 Volkswagen builds its own AI chip in China
Volkswagen builds its own AI chip in China Blume bets on bytes over burners Volkswagen is taking action after its weakening performance in China. The automaker
💾 Amazon Turns Korea into an AI Hub: $5 Billion for Data Centers
Amazon Turns Korea into an AI Hub: $5 Billion for Data Centers Investment Surge: AWS will invest over $5 billion by 2031 in data centers across Incheon and Gyeo
So many monthly active users were recorded across China’s AI apps in September.
So many monthly active users were recorded across China’s AI apps in September. Growth amid losses: Despite total users climbing from 680 million in June, nearl
🎓 The AI dilemma: destroying and creating jobs
The AI dilemma: destroying and creating jobs Without human intelligence, even dog walking won’t get done… In Hong Kong, entry-level salaries for graduates have
Wiz AI
Wiz AI asiabits loves careers like this: University in Hangzhou and California, then a startup in Singapore. The problem: Southeast Asia is a linguistic jungle
🏨 Airbnb drops ChatGPT, turns to Alibaba AI
Airbnb drops ChatGPT, turns to Alibaba AI (Source: Screenshot cnbc.com ) Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has announced that ChatGPT will not be integrated into the trav
💸 8.5 billion US$ profit: Samsung rides the AI wave
8.5 billion US$ profit: Samsung rides the AI wave There was definitely reason to pop champagne at Samsung headquarters in Seoul yesterday. Details Record Quarte
Hutzper Inc. - Hiro Onishi
Hutzper Inc. - Hiro Onishi Osaka’s AI underdog What began as university research by Hiro Onishi has become one of Osaka’s most promising industrial AI startups.
🧠 Chinese AI star leaves Anthropic over “China” rhetoric
Chinese AI star leaves Anthropic over “China” rhetoric A rare shake-up in the AI power game: Chinese physicist and AI researcher Yao Shunyu has left Anthropic a
🧠 Chips, power, offshore: Korea builds AI megaproject
Chips, power, offshore: Korea builds AI megaproject Bits meet bibimbap: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman OpenAI is teaming up with Korea’s tech giants. Samsung Electronics
🏥 “Hospital in Your Pocket”: JD.com launches AI hospital
“Hospital in Your Pocket”: JD.com launches AI hospital Her application for the AI hospital has been rejected… At its tech conference in Beijing, JD.com unveiled
That’s the total of Hong Kong’s cybercrime losses in just seven months: about USD 460 million, up 18% from the previous year despite fewer reported cases.
That’s the total of Hong Kong’s cybercrime losses in just seven months: about USD 460 million, up 18% from the previous year despite fewer reported cases. AI ma
Galexea AI
Galexea AI Galaxea AI Secures Robotics Dominance In July 2025, Galaxea AI secured over $100 million from investors like Ant Group to commercialize its R1 humano
🧩 Hitachi buys German AI specialist Synvert
Hitachi buys German AI specialist Synvert Details Shopping in Münster: Hitachi is acquiring Synvert, a consulting firm founded in 1991 with around 550 employees
💼 SoftBank cuts jobs, goes all in on AI
SoftBank cuts jobs, goes all in on AI Will soon be spending his lunch breaks with machines instead of people: Masayoshi Son SoftBank’s multibillion-dollar Visio
⚙️ Huawei lays out AI roadmap through 2028
️ Huawei lays out AI roadmap through 2028 Huawei rotating chairman Xu Zhijun At its in-house expo in Shanghai, Huawei unveiled an ambitious roadmap: between 202
📶 China Unicom bets on Alibaba’s AI chips
China Unicom bets on Alibaba’s AI chips No. 3 in China, No. 6 Worldwide: China Unicom Details Chip, Chip, Hooray: For a new data center in Qinghai, China Unicom
That's the size of China's stock market including Hong Kong – after three years shunned as "uninvestable," foreign investors are knocking on the door again.
That's the size of China's stock market including Hong Kong – after three years shunned as "uninvestable," foreign investors are knocking on the door again. Sen
🎓 Why This Harvard AI Pioneer Moved to Beijing
Why This Harvard AI Pioneer Moved to Beijing Harvard-trained AI researcher Song-Chun Zhu switched sides in 2020 after nearly three decades in the U.S. Since the
Chungin “Roy” Lee
Chungin “Roy” Lee From Academic Scandal to Tech Disruptor As a student, Lee built his own AI tool to cheat in job interviews. During an Amazon internship interv
📚 China Bets on Digital Teachers: What’s Behind the Boom
China Bets on Digital Teachers: What’s Behind the Boom This pen won’t bite. It just wants to teach. In China, AI tools are moving to the center of learning. Ins
30,000
30,000 That’s how many African students Japan plans to train in artificial intelligence over the next three years to accelerate the digital transformation of ma
💻 Foxconn – 27% Profit Boost Driven by AI Server Boom
Foxconn – 27% Profit Boost Driven by AI Server Boom These workers could soon see their jobs replaced by AI… Foxconn, the world’s largest contract manufacturer a
Baek Minkyung
Baek Minkyung From Chemistry PhD to AI Protein Pioneer: Baek Minkyung, Assistant Professor at Seoul National University, co-developed RoseTTAFold , an AI model
+15 %
+15 % Tencent’s quarterly revenue rose by this percentage thanks to strong gaming and AI-driven expansion. Tencent Music Beats Expectations : Net profit surged
💻 From Beijing to Shenzhen: AI Hype Everywhere
From Beijing to Shenzhen: AI Hype Everywhere Artificial intelligence (left) meets human intelligence (right) In China, cities, start-ups, and tech giants are ou
🔬 XTalPi Lands $6 Billion Mega Deal – AI Meets Cancer Research
XTalPi Lands $6 Billion Mega Deal – AI Meets Cancer Research Details Deal Volume: Harvard entrepreneur Gregory Verdine, through his start-up DoveTree, secures e
+25%
+25% That’s how many more AI graduates ByteDance plans to hire from universities in 2026. ByteDance PhD Salaries: Up to $5,200 per month for doctoral candidates
🧠 Alibaba Transforms into an AI Superpower
Alibaba Transforms into an AI Superpower Alibaba’s biggest fail: The mascot. Even a German fifth-tier football club has a better one… Alibaba is ditching its pr
🔻 Job Shock – Industry Cuts, AI Transforms Workforce
Job Shock – Industry Cuts, AI Transforms Workforce Will AI replace this Alibaba employee’s job? Details China under the microscope: From IT to solar, jobs are s
💰 Samsung Lands Tesla Mega Deal
Samsung Lands Tesla Mega Deal It’s not known which drug cocktail Elon Musk is using to celebrate the deal… Details Record-Size Contract Manufacturing: Samsung w
🌐 China Wants to Set Up a Global AI Organization
China Wants to Set Up a Global AI Organization China’s Premier Li Qiang (not an AI avatar) China’s Premier Li Qiang has called at the country’s most important A
🤖 TikTok Parent ByteDance Bets on Robotic AI
TikTok Parent ByteDance Bets on Robotic AI We’ve already pre-ordered a household robot and named it “Alfred.” TikTok owner ByteDance has unveiled the vision–lan
🤖 Amazon Closes AI Lab in Shanghai – Next US Pullback
Amazon Closes AI Lab in Shanghai – Next US Pullback Amazon Web Services (AWS) is shutting down its AI Shanghai lablet —opened in 2018—which was the last AWS res
Yang Zhilin
Yang Zhilin From LLM researcher to a $3.3B AI unicorn: Yang Zhilin founded Moonshot AI , brought Alibaba and Tencent on board, and at the age of 31 he is seen a