Capacity development

China pushes frontier tech from research to real-world applications

Innovations across China are moving rapidly from laboratories into everyday use, spanning robotics, autonomous vehicles and quantum computing. Airports, hotels and city streets are increasingly becoming testing grounds for advanced technologies.

In Hefei, humanoid cleaning robots developed by local start-up Zerith are already operating in public venues across major cities. The company scaled from prototype to mass production within a year, securing significant commercial orders.

Beyond robotics, frontier research is finding industrial applications in energy, healthcare and manufacturing. Advances from fusion research and quantum mechanics are being adapted for cancer screening, battery safety and precision measurement.

Policy support and investment are accelerating this transition from research to market. National planning and local funding initiatives aim to turn scientific breakthroughs into scalable technologies with global reach.

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Photonic secures $130 million to scale quantum computing systems

Canadian quantum computing company Photonic has raised $130 million in the first close of a new investment round led by Planet First Partners. New backers include RBC and TELUS, alongside returning investors.

The funding brings Photonic’s total capital raised to $271 million and supports the development of fault-tolerant quantum systems. The company combines silicon-based qubits with built-in photonic connectivity.

Photonic’s entanglement-first architecture is designed to scale across existing global telecom networks. The approach aims to enable large, distributed quantum computers rather than isolated machines.

Headquartered in Vancouver, Photonic plans to utilise the investment to accelerate key product milestones and expand its team. Investors see strong potential across finance, sustainability, telecommunications and security sectors.

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AI gap reflects China’s growing technological ambitions

China’s AI sector could narrow the technological AI gap with the United States through growing risk-taking and innovation, according to leading researchers. Despite export controls on advanced chipmaking tools, Chinese firms are accelerating development across multiple AI fields.

Yao Shunyu, a former senior researcher at ChatGPT maker OpenAI and now Tencent’s AI scientist, said a Chinese company could become the world’s leading AI firm within three to five years. He pointed to China’s strengths in electricity supply and infrastructure as key advantages.

Yao said the main bottlenecks remain production capacity, including access to advanced lithography machines and a mature software ecosystem. Such limits still restrict China’s ability to manufacture the most advanced semiconductors and narrow the AI gap with the US.

China has developed a working prototype of an extreme-ultraviolet lithography machine that could eventually rival Western technology. However, Reuters reported the system has not yet produced functioning chips.

Sources familiar with the project said commercial chip production using the machine may not begin until around 2030. Until then, Chinese AI ambitions are likely to remain constrained by hardware limitations.

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Global fertilizer expo partners with University of Florida AI research hub

Teachers across Colorado are exploring how AI can be utilised as an instructional assistant to support classroom instruction and student learning.

Some educators are experimenting with generative AI tools that help with tasks like lesson planning, summarising material and creating examples, while also educating students on responsible use of AI.

The broader trend mirrors state and district efforts to develop AI strategies for education. Reports indicate that many districts are establishing steering committees and policies to guide the safe and effective use of classrooms. In contrast, others limit student access due to privacy concerns, underscoring the need for training and clear guidelines.

Teachers have noted both benefits, such as time savings and personalised support, and challenges, including ethical questions about plagiarism and student independence, highlighting a period of experimentation and adjustment as AI becomes part of mainstream education.

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Digital twins gain momentum through AI

AI is accelerating the creation of digital twins by reducing the time and labour required to build complex models. Consulting firm McKinsey says specialised virtual replicas can take six months or more to develop, but generative AI tools can now automate much of the coding process.

McKinsey analysts say AI can structure inputs and synthesise outputs for these simulations, while the models provide safe testing environments for AI systems. Together, the technologies can reduce costs, shorten development cycles, and accelerate deployment.

Quantum Elements, a startup backed by QNDL Participations and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, is applying this approach to quantum computing. Its Constellation platform combines AI agents, natural language tools, and simulation software.

The company says quantum systems are hard to model because qubits behave differently across hardware types such as superconducting circuits, trapped ions, and photonics. These variations affect stability, error rates, and performance.

By using digital twins, developers can test algorithms, simulate noise, and evaluate error correction without building physical hardware. Quantum Elements says this can cut testing time from months to minutes.

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Taiwan aims to train 500,000 AI professionals

Taiwan aims to train 500,000 AI professionals by 2040, backed by a NT$100 billion (US$31.6 billion) government venture fund. President Lai Ching-te announced the 2026 AI talent forum in Taipei.

The government’s 10-year AI plan includes a national computing centre and the development of technologies such as silicon photonics, quantum computing, and robotics. President Lai said that national competitiveness depends on both chipmaking and citizens’ ability to utilise AI across various disciplines.

To achieve these goals, AI training courses are being introduced for public sector employees, and students are being encouraged to acquire AI skills. The initiative aims to foster cooperation between government, industry, and academia to drive economic transformation.

With a larger pool of AI professionals, Taiwan hopes to help small and medium-sized enterprises accelerate digital upgrades, enhance innovation, and strengthen the nation’s global competitiveness in emerging technologies.

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Tuya unveils AI-powered pet companion Aura

Tuya Smart has unveiled Aura, its first AI-powered pet companion robot, at CES 2026. Designed to support pets’ emotional well-being, Aura monitors behaviour and vocal cues to help owners understand their pets’ moods in real time.

Aura combines interactive play, treat dispensing, voice communication, and expressive animated eyes with autonomous home navigation. It captures memorable moments with AI-powered photography and generates short videos, allowing owners to stay connected even when away.

The robot connects to Tuya’s developer ecosystem and local pet services, offering boarding, grooming, medical support, behaviour training, and community engagement. By merging companionship with practical services, Aura represents a new class of AI devices integrated into daily life.

Tuya’s launch of Aura demonstrates the company’s leadership in AI and robotics innovation. The robot sets the stage for future applications in home service robotics, emotional support, and elder or family care, highlighting a vision for AI-driven living.

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Google brings AI to personalised shopping

Google is working with major retailers to use AI in guiding customers from product discovery to checkout. The company has launched the Universal Commerce Protocol, an open standard for seamless agentic commerce that keeps retailers in control of customer relationships.

The Universal Commerce Protocol works with existing systems and partners, including Shopify, Etsy, Wayfair, Target, and Walmart.

Customers can receive personalised offers, loyalty rewards, and recommendations in Google Search or Gemini, completing purchases via Google Pay without leaving the platform.

To support retailers, Google has launched Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience, which unifies search, commerce, and service touchpoints across all channels.

Early partners, such as The Home Depot and McDonald’s, are already utilising AI-powered agents to enhance service, provide proactive recommendations, and improve customer engagement.

Logistics also feature prominently, with Wing expanding delivery capabilities alongside Walmart, doubling operations in existing markets, and rolling out to Houston, Orlando, Tampa, Charlotte, and other cities.

Google aims to create an end-to-end shopping ecosystem where AI, agentic protocols, and seamless delivery elevate both customer and retailer experiences.

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Google removes AI health summaries after safety concerns

Google removed some AI health summaries after a Guardian investigation found they gave misleading and potentially dangerous information. The AI Overviews contained inaccurate liver test data, potentially leading patients to believe they were healthy falsely.

Experts have criticised AI Overviews for oversimplifying complex medical topics, ignoring essential factors such as age, sex, and ethnicity. Charities have warned that misleading AI content could deter people from seeking medical care and erode trust in online health information.

Google removed AI Overviews for some queries, but concerns remain over cancer and mental health summaries that may still be inaccurate or unsafe. Professionals emphasise that AI tools must direct users to reliable sources and advise seeking expert medical input.

The company stated it is reviewing flagged examples and making broad improvements, but experts insist that more comprehensive oversight is needed to prevent AI from dispensing harmful health misinformation.

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AI race shows diverging paths for China and the US

The US administration’s new AI action plan frames global development as an AI race with a single winner. Officials argue AI dominance brings economic, military, and geopolitical advantages. Experts say competition is unfolding across multiple domains.

The United States continues to lead in the development of advanced large language and multimodal models by firms such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. American companies also dominate global computing infrastructure. Control over high-end AI chips and data-centre capacity remains concentrated in US firms.

Chinese companies are narrowing the gap in the practical applications of AI. Models from Alibaba, DeepSeek, and Moonshot AI perform well in tasks such as translation, coding, and customer service. Performance at the cutting edge still lags behind US systems.

Washington’s decision to allow limited exports of Nvidia’s H200 AI chips to China reflects a belief that controlled sales can preserve US leadership. Critics argue the move risks weakening America’s computing advantage. Concerns persist over long-term strategic consequences.

Rather than a decisive victory for either side in the AI race, analysts foresee an era of asymmetric competition in AI. The United States may dominate advanced AI services, but China is expected to lead in large-scale industrial deployment within the evolving AI race.

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