CHINESE APPS
November Pixel Drop: Google brings Gemini Intelligence, custom widgets and AI summaries
Google's November Pixel Drop expands Gemini Intelligence on Pixel 10 with improved voice typing, task automation and proactive suggestions. The update also introduces personalised widgets, AI-powered conversation summaries, additional icon styles and upgraded Call Screen features on Pixel 11 devices. Google has also launched Pixel Tag, its new accessory for tracking personal belongings.
China app bets Rs 28,000 on your love life, promises refund if you don't marry in 3 years
A Chinese matchmaking start-up is offering users a full refund if they remain unmarried after three years, while using AI conversations and one-to-one matching to identify compatible partners. Founded by a former Kimi AI developer, Liangpei AI has attracted more than 35,000 users, but its ability to turn matches into marriages remains untested.
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.
China's Singles Day shopping festival puts AI selling power to the test
If you are looking for evidence of how enthusiastically China is adopting AI, look no further than the country's premier month-long Singles Day shopping festival.
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.
China, Hong Kong stocks rise as AI shares rally, oil prices slide
Chinese and Hong Kong stocks edged higher as a rally in global technology shares and falling oil prices lifted sentiment. AI-linked stocks led gains, while energy shares declined amid a broader regional market rebound.

Apple opens Siri AI to all developers: Here’s what you need to know
Apple has launched a Developer Preview of Siri AI for developers across multiple operating systems. This integration facilitates enhanced user interactions, allowing apps to utilize features like App Intents for task management and app skills for managing complex tasks. However, Siri AI remains unavailable in the European Union due to regulatory obligations, and its usage is restricted to individuals over 13 years old.

First Apple Intelligence features land in China, with Alibaba’s Qwen on board
The tech giant has partnered with Alibaba to bring its Qwen model into some of the experiences. Chinese users will be able to use Qwen through Siri, Writing Tools, and Visual Intelligence, enabling text and image understanding. Users can access it by signing in with a Qwen account or through Apple, the company said in a blog post.

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.

SoftBank-backed OPay raises $304 million in US IPO
The Nigeria-focused firm sold 16 million American depositary shares at $19 apiece in the IPO, compared with its targeted range of $19 to $21, giving it a valuation of about $4 billion.

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.

AI-powered cyberattacks siphon ₹300 crore from small NBFCs in two months
Recent cyberattacks have inflicted an estimated loss of ₹300 crore on Indian NBFC, with around 150 fraud cases reported. Focus has shifted towards identifying Chinese hacking platforms and AI toolkit involvement in these incidents. Exploiting operational weaknesses, these cybercriminals persistently launch their attacks, leading to urgent calls for NBFCs to bolster their cybersecurity frameworks to fend off further threats and safeguard their operations.

Kylian Mbappe apologises to China over Mao Zedong remark, loses brand deals after dictator meme controversy; what did Real Madrid star say?
Mbappe has now issued an apology amid fierce backlash. The French star said his words were 'ill-judged,' and said it was 'absolutely not my intention' to hurt the sentiments of China and the Chinese communities around the world. Spain's La Liga also issued an apology and said it deeply regrets the offence that Mbappe's recent comments have caused.

inDrive taps Pony.ai and Nvidia to test robotaxis in one of the world's coldest capitals
The ride-hailing company will explore driverless rides in Kazakhstan without building its own self-driving technology, as platforms increasingly leave the technology to partners and focus on connecting riders with cars.

China won’t stop its AI from going global, but it wants control over how it travels
Proposed rules from China have raised concerns that it could make it harder for its AI companies to take their models overseas, at a time when developers globally were turning to Chinese models as a cheaper alternative to US offerings.

China's Moonshot AI launches Kimi K3.1 Pro; plans full model weights release by November
Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company Moonshot AI has unveiled Kimi K3.1 Pro, a 3-trillion-parameter open-weight AI model featuring a 1-million-token context window, alongside a high-speed variant, Kimi K3.1 Pro Highspeed, according to a company statement.

Smartphones need some new smart sell
India's smartphone sales are in a slump, mirroring a global decline. Consumers are increasingly opting to hold onto their devices longer, while premium brands like Apple and Samsung show more resilience than their mass-market competitors. The industry appears to have hit a technological plateau, with minimal advancements noted. This slowdown may pave the way for future innovations that provide more essential features for users.

From Rome to Washington, why governments are pulling DeepSeek off official systems
At least eight governments, now including the US, have restricted the Chinese AI company's products. Most cite the same concern – user data stored in China, where the law gives the state wide powers to access it.
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