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Nooka turns books into conversational podcasts, creating a new form of content where storytelling starts with dialogue.

What happens when AI rewrites Kant, and you get to argue with it?

Decoding China&#039;s tech and business pulse

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Anker’s audio brand is expanding beyond playback, aiming to turn headphones into contextual, conversational assistants.

From audio to assistant, Anker’s Soundcore wants to redefine what headphones can do

36Kr is China's most influential business and technology network, delivering high-quality content focused on China’s innovation and new economy trends since 2010. With its extensive traffic and network, 36Kr has built a comprehensive database and strong data analytics capabilities to provide insights into China’s technology landscape.

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Deals in brief: Atome secures USD 75 million facility, Sam Altman backs Coco Robotics again, 12 new China deals, and more

An alias used when humans and machines team up in our newsroom. Articles under this byline may be shaped with the help of AI, but are always vetted by a human before publication.

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KrASIA tracks China’s tech and business stories—alongside key developments across the broader Asia Pacific region.

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AstraZeneca and CSPC Pharmaceutical have signed a research deal worth up to USD 5.3 billion to co-develop oral therapies for chronic and immunological diseases. CSPC will lead discovery in China using AI-driven tools, while AstraZeneca gains global licensing rights. The partnership follows AstraZeneca’s USD 2.5 billion Beijing investment in March.

<a href="/company/baidu">Baidu</a> has launched an <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> search service through its AppBuilder platform, combining real-time retrieval with generative summaries powered by its core engine. The tool supports multimodal, secure, and customizable data access for industries including finance, government, and tourism, with daily free quotas and tiered pricing.

Transsion’s Tecno has partnered with Spanish distributor MCR to roll out its AIoT product line, including laptops, gaming PCs, and smart wearables. The deal grants access to a 10,000-strong distributor network and advanced logistics, supporting Tecno’s push into the European market.

<a href="/company/tiktok">ByteDance's</a> TikTok surpassed one billion overseas monthly users in May, according to Sensor Tower. <a href="/industry/ai">AI-powered tools</a>, <a href="/industry/e-commerce">e-commerce</a> platforms, and short drama apps also gained in Southeast Asia and Latin America, driven by localized content and enhanced recommendation algorithms.

Nearly half of China’s listed supermarket chains posted losses in 2024, with over 900 store closures as firms scrambled to adapt. While Walmart and Sam’s Club bucked the trend, others launched aggressive overhauls, adopting leaner models and benchmarking top performers to stay competitive.

Once discontinued, peel-apart film is making a comeback in China as Gen Z consumers embrace its rarity and vintage aesthetic. Promoted by celebrities and photo studios, the unpredictable medium now commands steep prices, with some paying over RMB 900 for just three shots, despite expired stock and no option for reshoots.

Meta has reportedly taken a 49% non-voting stake in Scale AI for USD 14.3 billion and brought CEO Alexandr Wang onto its <a href="http://industry/ai">AI</a> team. The move bolsters Meta's "superintelligence" ambitions as it works to close gaps with <a href="/company/openai">OpenAI</a> and Google after underwhelming model releases.

Douyin E-commerce has updated its deposit policy to lower onboarding costs, offering zero-deposit entry for new sellers and cutting existing deposit tiers by up to 75%. Deposits apply only after 200 orders or RMB 10,000 in sales, and merchants may now withdraw excess balances on a weekly basis.

<a href="/company/nvidia">Nvidia</a> CEO Jensen Huang said autonomous vehicles, robotics, and machines are set to surge this decade, calling it a defining era for autonomous tech. Speaking at the Viva Technology conference in Paris, Huang noted Nvidia’s role in the space, supplying both hardware and software to players in the sector.

US President Donald Trump said on June 12 that he may raise tariffs on imported cars, arguing that higher rates would encourage automakers to expand US production. He cited recent commitments from GM and Hyundai as evidence the strategy works. Industry players have pushed back, with Ford and Subaru warning of rising costs, while GM has estimated USD 4–5 billion in tariff exposure.

How does automation advance industry? Analyze robotic arms, drones, and AI-driven tools reshaping manufacturing and services.

What powers digital devices? Delve into chip design, manufacturing bottlenecks, and semiconductor breakthroughs fueling global electronics.

Semiconductors

The RDK S100 integrates three processors on a single chip to coordinate large and small AI models more efficiently.

As robots get smarter, D-Robotics ships an SoC kit to close the loop

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Europe

The EU bloc and Beijing step up talks, though analysts remain doubtful of any major breakthroughs.

EU pushes for China trade "rebalancing" as Trump factor looms

EU pushes for China trade &#8220;rebalancing&#8221; as Trump factor looms

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Nikkei Asia

China’s tech ecosystem serves as a driving force behind the world’s second largest economy, influencing global digital markets.

Explore East Asia’s thriving tech hubs, global electronics producers, and fast-evolving digital platforms shaping cross-border innovation.

East Asia

Tencent, a Chinese tech conglomerate, invests in gaming, social media, and cloud services, supporting entertainment and connectivity worldwide.

After four aborted IPO attempts and a brief return to profitability, Ximalaya is being absorbed by Tencent.

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Most Recent

As robots get smarter, D-Robotics ships an SoC kit to close the loop

EU pushes for China trade “rebalancing” as Trump factor looms

Ximalaya’s swan song plays out in a USD 2.9 billion Tencent buyout