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WhatsApp is introducing ads for the first time, as Meta adds status ads and monetization features to the “Updates” tab. Businesses can promote posts a…

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Splat is an app that turns arguments into entertainment, where AI judges your roasts and fighting is framed as a form of connection.

This 26-year-old built a social app where fighting is not a bug, but a feature

Decoding China&#039;s tech and business pulse

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Fashion labels, coffee chains, and lifestyle startups are reimagining what it means to belong in a historic neighborhood that still feels lived in.

Adidas lands on Anfu Road, joining the retail mix shaping Shanghai’s storied street

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

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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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WhatsApp is introducing ads for the first time, as Meta adds status ads and monetization features to the “Updates” tab. Businesses can promote posts and offer exclusive channel content via subscriptions, with Meta set to take a cut. Personal chats and calls remain private and ad-free.

Meta is hiring Daniel Gross and Nat Friedman, key figures behind <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> startup Safe Superintelligence and VC firm NFDG. The duo will work with Scale AI’s Alexandr Wang, brought on through a USD 14.3 billion deal. Meta will also take a stake in NFDG.

Google is using YouTube videos to train <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> models like Veo 3 and Gemini, but many creators say they were not informed. While YouTube’s terms permit content use, experts warn the practice could undercut creators by producing competing content without credit or consent, raising concerns over AI, copyright, and digital identity.

Export orders on Alibaba.com rose 42% YoY during this year’s 618 event, with GMV up nearly 30% amid early Christmas demand from the US and Europe, where order volumes jumped 55% and 84% respectively. Some suppliers saw sales double, prompting Alibaba to extend US promotions through August and ramp up ad placements across Europe.

Panasonic has partnered with Unitree Robotics to launch <a href="/industry/robotics">humanoid robot</a> sales assistants in retail stores, marking the robots’ first major commercial deployment beyond performances. Debuting at Panasonic’s Hangzhou park, the robots can reportedly explain products, assess customer needs, and calculate offers in real time.

China’s central bank governor said the yuan will play a larger role in a multipolar currency system, warning against overreliance on the US dollar. His remarks came amid rising geopolitical tensions and aligned with efforts to expand the digital yuan, CIPS network, and outbound investment channels.

Chinese customs authorities have seized over 46,000 counterfeit Labubu toys across Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Shanghai as demand for the viral <a href="/company/pop-mart">Pop Mart</a> collectible fuels a surge in knockoffs. State media warned of a growing black market chain mixing fakes with genuine dolls and called for stricter IP enforcement and platform oversight.

A SpaceX Starship rocket exploded during a June 18 static fire test in Texas, likely due to a nitrogen tank failure, marking the first ground test loss in years. No injuries were reported, but the blast adds to ongoing setbacks for a vehicle central to NASA’s moon plans and Elon Musk’s Mars ambitions.

China’s 618 shopping festival reached a record RMB 855.6 billion in GMV, up 15.2% YoY, according to Syntun, though daily spending fell as the event extended over several weeks. <a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba's</a> Tmall and <a href="/company/jd">JD.com</a> led sales, while subsidies and early promotions lifted May retail figures amid consumer caution and discount fatigue.

Shenyang, long known as an industrial hub, will open a minidrama production center at a repurposed factory site to tap China’s growing market for bite-sized content. The 20,000-square-meter facility will support XR filming, <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> tools, and distribution via major streaming platforms.

<a href="/company/tiktok">TikTok</a> is preparing to launch TikTok Shop in Japan, adding in-app shopping features that enable live stream and video-based purchases. With support from sellers and ad firms like Hakuhodo and Dentsu, the rollout could jumpstart live commerce in a market long led by Amazon and Rakuten.

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

DJI sets industry standards in drone technology, offering aerial imaging, filming solutions, and advanced flight controls for professionals and hobbyists.

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

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With DJI preparing to enter its core segment, Insta360 faces the challenge of defending its moat through continued innovation.

Insta360’s IPO pop signals confidence, but the real challenge lies ahead

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

The Shanghai-based startup is developing AI-powered robots to automate industrial grinding, a process still largely manually done.

Most surface grinding is still done by hand, and Tosso wants to change that

Great Wall Motor produces SUVs, pickup trucks, and passenger cars across multiple brands, with a focus on expanding EV and smart vehicle capabilities.

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Executive churn and slow progress on deliveries leave Haomo.AI at risk of being folded into Great Wall Motor as rivals gain ground.

Meta begins monetizing WhatsApp with ads

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Insta360’s IPO pop signals confidence, but the real challenge lies ahead

Most surface grinding is still done by hand, and Tosso wants to change that

Haomo.AI hits a crossroads amid leadership shakeup and tech setbacks