CHINESE AI STARTUPS
ByteDance prepares Meta's Muse-like agent in push to close AI gap
ByteDance is preparing to release an AI assistant similar to Muse by Meta Platforms soon. Co-founder Zhang Yiming has shared his vision of competing with companies like Anthropic and OpenAI by 2030. The company intends to invest up to $70 billion in developing the Seedance video AI platform.
Drugmakers tap China AI app boom to reach doctors as crackdown upends marketing
As scrutiny intensifies, Chinese pharmaceutical companies are shifting gears toward digital marketing initiatives. Traditional face-to-face communications are waning, prompting the industry to embrace AI-fueled applications for connecting with healthcare providers. These tools facilitate compliant relationships, sparking partnerships among health-tech firms to disseminate clinical information through digital channels. This marks a pivotal change in marketing dynamics within the pharmaceutical landscape.
Qcomm’s Diwali boost; Energy startups attract funds
Happy Wednesday! Quick commerce powered a strong festive season for D2C brands. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
UPI sees Diwali boom; AI cracks Captcha
Diwali spending fuelled a surge in UPI transactions, with both payment volumes and values rising. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Jensen Huang is bigger than Nvidia — and it’s a problem
Nvidia has initiated an investigation regarding CEO Jensen Huang after acknowledgment of a romantic involvement with a Chinese spy. This revelation has raised questions about the company's future stability and ongoing projects. Investors are apprehensive about key-person risk due to Huang's significant influence on Nvidia’s operations and strategy.
How China gets the Nvidia chips it needs to develop AI
Nvidia's dominance in the global AI chip market has come under scrutiny as US export restrictions fail to fully prevent China from accessing advanced processors. Chinese firms are reportedly obtaining Nvidia chips through smuggling and overseas data centres, while domestic players such as Huawei race to develop competitive alternatives.
- Go To Page 1

Moonshot AI rents Nvidia’s top AI chips in China, documents show
Documents indicate that Moonshot AI possibly accessed advanced Nvidia chips despite US export restrictions and related investigations. The servers were reportedly rented from Super Micro Computer Inc. with significant financial backing from Lingmeixin Technology Co.

Nvidia controversy stokes export scrutiny risks for South Korean chipmakers
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix could experience greater export compliance challenges due to Nvidia's scrutiny over AI chips. US authorities have not announced new regulations yet, but potential measures might emerge. Chief Executive Jensen Huang's personal matters have spurred investigations into Nvidia's business dealings. A closed-door inquiry is scheduled to review security frameworks and contacts with foreign entities.

I was unfaithful to my wife: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits secret affair with Chinese spy Alice Huang; all you need to know about the controversy
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admitted to having an extramarital relationship with a business executive. Reports suggest that the executive may have connections to Chinese espionage activities. Nvidia's board has initiated an independent investigation to examine these allegations thoroughly. US lawmakers have requested a briefing to understand potential national security issues related to the case. Huang remains the CEO, while the investigation seeks to clarify any risks to the company.

South Korea says Nvidia issues won't affect contracted GPU supplies
Vice Minister of Science and ICT Ryu Jemyung told a parliamentary budget committee that 10,000 GPUs funded under a 2025 supplementary budget had already arrived and were in use.
China blocks SoftBank's $5.4 billion acquisition of ABB Robotics
China has blocked SoftBank’s $5.4 billion acquisition of ABB’s robotics business, disrupting the Japanese group’s AI-powered robotics expansion. The intervention highlights Beijing’s growing scrutiny of cross-border deals involving strategically important technologies.

OpenAI’s India user base doubles; Rapido GOV quadruples
Happy Tuesday! India has become ChatGPT’s largest market globally, with its user base doubling. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.

This startup is selling a Rs 94,835 mosquito trap that uses a powerful blue laser and sensors similar to those in self-driving cars to track and kill mosquitoes while detecting people, pets and nearby surfaces to prevent accidental firing
Photon Matrix has introduced a laser device that identifies and eliminates mosquitoes effectively. The products are priced at around $1,000 each, with a delivery estimate of 120 days. Both the indoor and outdoor models utilize advanced A.I. for mosquito detection and targeting. The system is designed to be safe for humans and pets, although independent safety testing is pending. This technology aims to revolutionize traditional mosquito control methods.

China's robot makers have mastered the moves. Now comes the race for brains
The shift is fuelling an investment boom in embodied AI, a field focused on software that allows robots to understand their surroundings, learn unfamiliar tasks and adapt without having to be programmed for every job.

Fintechs fortify cyber defences; Logistics cos in the speed lane
Happy Monday! Fintechs are stepping up security as AI-powered cyberattacks become more sophisticated. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.

Mistral AI publicly releases Large 4, targets cybersecurity users
Mistral said the released version was an upgrade from the one unveiled three weeks ago, following testing with governments and corporate users, which helped improve its performance.

Cyberattacks hit NBFCs; Pine Labs Q2 profit zooms
Cyber criminals are targetting smaller NBFCs with specialised AI toolkits. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

China's new export curbs draw a line around its AI crown jewels
The draft rules, released on October 16, distinguish between foreign customers using Chinese AI services and foreign companies obtaining the models, data or expertise needed to operate or reproduce them independently.

Chinese AI model carries out complex cyberattacks in controlled tests, researchers say
Chinese firm Z.AI's flagship AI model carried out complex cyberattacks in controlled simulations and repeatedly ignored instructions in separate tests, according to a report by AI security research firm Irregular.

China's new export curbs draw a line around its AI crown jewels
The draft rules, released on October 16, distinguish between foreign customers using Chinese AI services and foreign companies obtaining the models, data or expertise needed to operate or reproduce them independently.

Anthropic's record IPO faces some big questions
No startup has ever grown so fast. Investors have already grown nervous.

ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming reclaims top spot in China's rich list, thanks to his firm's AI push
The rankings released by The Hurun Research Institute on Tuesday reflected that the country's high-tech sectors were rising but others like consumer and real estate were under pressure.

AI bubble to burst soon? Artificial Intelligence meltdown in China but Anthropic IPO at US Stock Market tell interesting stories of AI boom
Amid the billions — even trillions — at stake, worries about an AI boom are looming in the background along with concerns about keeping the technology under human control.

Moonshot resets subscriber quotas after Kimi K3.1 Pro launch issues
Chinese artificial intelligence startup Moonshot AI apologised on Monday for rate limiting and unnecessary quota consumption after its Kimi K3.1 Pro launch.

As the US and China form AI blocs, countries are increasingly torn between them
Countries like Kazakhstan are trying to balance between U.S. and China AI initiatives for technological gains. Indonesia has expressed interest in benefiting from both AI superpowers while pursuing its technological agenda. Some nations are exploring relationships with both blocs without fully committing to either. China's investments in developing countries are increasing, enhancing their own AI capabilities.

Moonshot curbs hacking ability in new Kimi model as fears grow over AI-powered cyberattacks
Beijing-based Moonshot announced the curbs while introducing Kimi K3.1 Pro, which it describes as its most capable 3-trillion-parameter-class open-weight model. The company plans to publish the model's weights - files allowing outside developers to run and modify it on their own systems - by November 4.

Dragon enters bear cave with $2.4 trillion lost since May peak
Chinese stocks have recently entered a bear market, resulting in a total loss of $2.4 trillion. Major indexes, including the CSI 300 and Hang Seng, have significantly declined in value. Investors express concerns about the future profitability of artificial intelligence companies and weak domestic demand. Analysts suggest the market malaise may continue into next year without substantial policy changes.

Global Market: China's Lingjun Investment attracts $300 million from overseas investors
China’s Lingjun Investment has raised at least $300 million from US and Southeast Asian investors as it resumes overseas fundraising. Strong fund returns and AI-driven interest support growth, while regulatory scrutiny makes governance and risk management critical.

China's Moonshot AI to operate in Singapore, jobs post shows
Chinese AI startup Moonshot is expanding into Singapore, with a new sales role listed on the company's LinkedIn page this week.
Load More