China Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

Safety and ethics standards for robotics established in China

China has introduced its first national standards for humanoid robots and embodied AI, marking a key step in regulating the growing industry. The framework covers the full industrial lifecycle, from design to deployment, ensuring safe, ethical, and high-quality development.

The standard system, released at the Humanoid Robots and Embodied Intelligence Standardisation (HEIS) meeting in Beijing, includes six components: commonality, brain-like and intelligent computing, limbs and components, complete machines and systems, applications, and safety and ethics.

It was developed collaboratively by over 120 research institutions, enterprises, and industry users under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Brain-like computing standards manage data, model training, and deployment, while application standards oversee development, operation, and maintenance. Safety and ethics protocols cover the entire industrial lifecycle, providing assurance of compliance as the sector evolves.

Following rapid growth in 2025, with over 140 domestic manufacturers producing more than 330 models, the new standards aim to guide China’s humanoid robot industry toward sustainable and regulated development.

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DeepSeek V4 tests China’s AI ambitions against US rivals

China’s DeepSeek is reportedly preparing to release its latest AI model, according to a Financial Times report. The planned debut of the company’s V4 large language model is seen as another test of China’s ability to compete with leading US AI firms.

Sources cited by the report said V4 will be a multimodal model capable of generating images, video, and text. DeepSeek has reportedly worked with Huawei and Cambricon to optimise the model for Chinese AI chips.

The release is expected ahead of the annual Two Sessions parliamentary meetings in China, which begin on 4 March. Analysts say the timing could reinforce DeepSeek’s positioning as a national AI champion.

The launch would be the company’s first major model release since its R1 reasoning system debuted in January last year. DeepSeek claimed R1 matched leading US models while using less computing power, a development some compared to a ‘Sputnik moment’ for American technology firms.

Separately, AI researcher Andrew Ng said the industry remains decades away from achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI). He argued that systems capable of matching human intellectual breadth remain distant, despite steady advances in model performance.

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Origin Pilot launch expands access to China’s quantum computing technology

China has made its self-developed quantum computer operating system, Origin Pilot, available for public download, marking a significant step toward expanding access to quantum computing technology. Officials expect the move to lower barriers to development and accelerate the growth of the national quantum ecosystem.

Developed by Hefei-based Origin Quantum Computing Technology, the system was first introduced in 2021 and has undergone several upgrades. The platform now supports multiple technological approaches, including superconducting, ion-trap, and neutral-atom quantum processors.

Origin Pilot manages key computing functions, including resource scheduling and coordination between software and hardware systems. Features including parallel task processing and automatic qubit calibration aim to improve the efficiency and stability of quantum operations.

Opening unified programming interfaces allows research institutions, universities and developers worldwide to connect to Chinese quantum chips and conduct programming through independent frameworks. Project leaders say users can download the system directly from the company’s official website and begin quantum development activities.

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CrowdStrike warns of faster AI driven threats

Cyber adversaries increasingly used AI to accelerate attacks and evade detection in 2025, according to CrowdStrike’s 2026 Global Threat Report. The company described the period as the year of the evasive adversary, marked by subtle and rapid intrusions.

The average time to a financially motivated online crime breakout fell to 29 minutes, with the fastest recorded at 27 seconds. CrowdStrike observed an 89 percent rise in attacks by AI-enabled threat actors compared with 2024.

Attackers also targeted AI systems themselves, exploiting GenAI tools at more than 90 organisations through malicious prompt injection. Supply chain compromises and the abuse of valid credentials enabled intrusions to blend into legitimate activity, with most detections classified as malware-free.

China linked activity rose by 38 percent across sectors, while North Korea linked incidents increased by 130 percent. CrowdStrike tracked more than 281 adversaries in total, warning that speed, credential abuse, and AI fluency now define the modern threat landscape.

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Chinese AI video tool unsettles Hollywood

A new AI video model developed by ByteDance has unsettled Hollywood after generating cinema-quality clips from brief text prompts. Seedance 2.0, launched in 2025, went viral for producing realistic action scenes featuring western cinematic characters such as Spider Man and Deadpool.

In response, major studios, including Disney and Paramount, issued cease and desist letters over alleged copyright infringement. Japan has also begun investigating ByteDance after AI-generated anime videos spread widely online.

Industry experts say Seedance 2.0 stands out for combining text, visuals and audio within a single system. Analysts in Singapore and Melbourne argue that Chinese AI models are now matching US competitors at the technological frontier.

As Seedance 2.0 gains traction, Beijing continues to prioritise AI and robotics in its economic strategy. The rise of tools from China has intensified debate in the US and beyond over copyright, regulation and the future of creative work.

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India AI Impact Summit faces controversy over robotic dog claim

An Indian university has vacated its stall at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi after a staff member presented a commercially available Chinese robotic dog as a university-developed innovation. The episode has sparked criticism and drawn attention to India’s AI ambitions.

Footage showed a professor introducing the robot, named Orion, as developed by the Centre of Excellence at Galgotias University. Social media users later identified the device as the Unitree Go2, produced by Unitree Robotics in China and widely used for research and education.

The Indian IT minister initially shared the video before deleting the post. The university later clarified that the robot was not its own creation and said no official communication had confirmed its removal from the event. However, local reports indicated that the stall had been vacated.

The incident occurred during the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam, billed as a major AI gathering in the Global South. The event has also faced reports of overcrowding and logistical issues, even as more than $100 billion in AI-related investments were announced.

Opposition politicians in India criticised the government over the episode, arguing it undermined India’s credibility in the global AI race. Despite the controversy, the summit continues with high-profile participation from global technology leaders and heads of government.

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Kung Fu dancing robots for Chinese New Year spark viral internet reaction

Robots programmed to perform Kung Fu and dance routines as part of Chinese New Year celebrations have captured global attention on social platforms. The videos blend choreographed motion with expressive gestures that many viewers interpreted as showcasing advances in robotics and artificial intelligence.

Online reactions ranged from amusement and admiration of technological creativity to scepticism about the sophistication and authenticity of the robot movements.

Commenters noted that while the routines were entertaining, they highlighted the current limitations of consumer robotics and AI-powered motion control, with some suggesting the performances emphasised showmanship over practical capability.

Others saw cultural value in combining traditional New Year festivities with modern machines, framing the robots as a symbol of progress and innovation.

Reactions spanned global social media audiences, illustrating how public discourse around AI and robotics is shaped not just by technical performance but by cultural resonance and meme-driven engagement.

The article underscores the increasing role of AI and robotics in public celebrations and viral content, reflecting both fascination and critical eye from internet communities.

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China boosts AI leadership with major model launches ahead of Lunar New Year

Leading Chinese AI developers have unveiled a series of advanced models ahead of the Lunar New Year, strengthening the country’s position in the global AI sector.

Major firms such as Alibaba, ByteDance, and Zhipu AI introduced new systems designed to support more sophisticated agents, faster workflows and broader multimedia understanding.

Industry observers also expect an imminent release from DeepSeek, whose previous model disrupted global markets last year.

Alibaba’s Qwen 3.5 model provides improved multilingual support across text, images and video while enabling rapid AI agent deployment instead of slower generation pipelines.

ByteDance followed up with updates to its Doubao chatbot and the second version of its image-to-video tool, SeeDance, which has drawn copyright concerns from the Motion Picture Association due to the ease with which users can recreate protected material.

Zhipu AI expanded the landscape further with GLM-5, an open-source model built for long-context reasoning, coding tasks, and multi-step planning. The company highlighted the model’s reliance on Huawei hardware as part of China’s efforts to strengthen domestic semiconductor resilience.

Meanwhile, excitement continues to build for DeepSeek’s fourth-generation system, expected to follow the widespread adoption and market turbulence associated with its V3 model.

Authorities across parts of Europe have restricted the use of DeepSeek models in public institutions because of data security and cybersecurity concerns.

Even so, the rapid pace of development in China suggests intensifying competition in the design of agent-focused systems capable of managing complex digital tasks without constant human oversight.

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From Milan-Cortina to factory floors, AI powers Zhejiang manufacturing

As Chinese skater Sun Long stood on the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics podium, the vivid red of his uniform reflected more than national pride. It also highlighted AI’s expanding role in China’s textile manufacturing.

In Shaoxing, AI-powered image systems calibrate fabric colours in real time. Factory managers say digital printing has lifted pass rates from about 50% to above 90%, easing longstanding production bottlenecks.

Tyre manufacturing firm Zhongce Rubber Group uses AI to generate multiple 3D designs in minutes. Engineers report shorter development cycles and reduced manual input across research and testing.

Electric vehicle maker Zeekr uses AI visual inspection in its 5G-enabled factory. Officials say tyre verification now takes seconds, helping eliminate assembly errors.

Provincial authorities in China report that large industrial firms are fully digitalized. Zhejiang plans to further integrate AI by 2027, expanding smart factories and industrial intelligence.

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Study says China AI governance not purely state-driven

New research challenges the view that China’s AI controls are solely the product of authoritarian rule, arguing instead that governance emerges from interaction between the state, private sector and society.

A study by Xuechen Chen of Northeastern University London and Lu Xu of Lancaster University argues that China’s AI governance is not purely top-down. Published in the Computer Law & Security Review, it says safeguards are shaped by regulators, companies and social actors, not only the central government.

Chen calls claims that Beijing’s AI oversight is entirely state-driven a ‘stereotypical narrative’. Although the Cyberspace Administration of China leads regulation, firms such as ByteDance and DeepSeek help shape guardrails through self-regulation and commercial strategy.

China was the first country to introduce rules specific to generative AI. Systems must avoid unlawful or vulgar content, and updated legislation strengthens minor protection, limiting children’s online activity and requiring child-friendly device modes.

Market incentives also reinforce compliance. As Chinese AI firms expand globally, consumer expectations and cultural norms encourage content moderation. The study concludes that governance reflects interaction between state authority, market forces and society.

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