China

China issues action plan for global AI governance and proposes global AI cooperation organisation

At the 2025 World AI Conference in Shanghai, Chinese Premier Li Qiang urged the international community to prioritise joint efforts in governing AI, making reference to a need to establish a global framework and set of rules widely accepted by the global community. He unveiled a proposal by the Chinese government to create a global AI cooperation organisation to foster international collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity in AI across nations.

‘China attaches great importance to global AI governance, and has been actively promoting multilateral and bilateral cooperation with a willingness to offer more Chinese solutions‘.

An Action Plan for AI Global Governance was also presented at the conference. The plan outlines, in its introduction, a call for ‘all stakeholders to take concrete and effective actions based on the principles of serving the public good, respecting sovereignty, development orientation, safety and controllability, equity and inclusiveness, and openness and cooperation, to jointly advance the global development and governance of AI’.

The document includes 13 points related to key areas of international AI cooperation, including promoting inclusive infrastructure development, fostering open innovation ecosystems, ensuring high-quality data supply, and advancing sustainability through green AI practices. It also calls for consensus-building around technical standards, advancing international cooperation on AI safety governance, and supporting countries – especially those in the Global South – in ‘developing AI technologies and services suited to their national conditions’.

Notably, the plan indicates China’s support for multilateralism when it comes to the governance of AI, calling for an active implementation of commitments made by UN member states in the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact, and expressing support for the establishment of the International AI Scientific Panel and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance (whose terms of reference are currently negotiated by UN member states in New York).

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

UBTech’s Walker S2 marks a leap towards uninterrupted robotic work

The paradigm of robotic autonomy is undergoing a profound transformation with the advent of UBTech’s new humanoid, the Walker S2. Traditionally, robots have been tethered to human assistance for power, requiring manual plugging in or lengthy recharges.

UBTech, a pioneering robotics company, is now dismantling these limitations with a groundbreaking feature in the Walker S2: the ability to swap its battery autonomously. The innovation promises to reshape the landscape of factory work and potentially many other industries, enabling near-continuous, 24/7 operation without human intervention.

The core of this advancement lies in the Walker S2’s sophisticated self-charging mechanism. When a battery begins to deplete, the robot does not power down. Instead, it intelligently navigates to a strategically placed battery swap station.

Once positioned, the robot executes a precise sequence of movements: it twists its torso, deploys built-in tools on its arms to unfasten and remove the drained battery from its back cavity, places it into an empty bay on the swap station, and then expertly retrieves a fresh, fully charged module.

The new battery is then securely plugged into one of its dual battery bays. The process is remarkably swift, taking approximately three minutes, allowing the robot to return to its tasks almost immediately.

The hot-swappable system mirrors the convenience of advanced electric vehicle technology, but its application to humanoid robotics unlocks unprecedented operational efficiency. Standing at 5 feet, 3 inches (approximately 160 cm) tall and weighing 95 pounds (about 43 kg), the Walker S2 is designed to integrate seamlessly into environments built for humans.

It has two 48-volt lithium batteries, ensuring a continuous power supply during the brief swapping procedure. While one battery powers the robot’s ongoing operations, the other can be exchanged.

Each battery provides approximately two hours of operation while walking or up to four hours when the robot stands still and performs tasks. The battery swap stations are not merely power hubs; they also meticulously monitor the health of each battery.

Should a battery show signs of degradation, a technician can be alerted to a timely replacement, further optimising the robot’s longevity and performance.

UBTech claims the Walker S2 is not a mere laboratory prototype but a robust solution engineered for real-world industrial deployment. Extensive testing has been conducted in the highly demanding environments of car factories operated by major Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, including BYD, Nio, and Zeekr.

The trials validate the robot’s ability to operate effectively in dynamic production lines. The Walker S2 incorporates advanced vision systems, allowing it to detect battery levels and identify fully charged units, indicated by a green light on the stacked battery packs.

The robot autonomously reads the visual cues, ensuring precise selection and connection via a simple USB-style connector. Furthermore, the robot features a display face, enabling it to communicate its operational status to human workers, fostering a collaborative and transparent work environment. For safety, a prominent emergency stop button is also integrated.

China’s strategic investment in robotics is a driving force behind such innovations. Shenzhen, UBTech’s home base, is a thriving hub for robotics, boasting over 1,600 companies in the sector.

The nation’s broader push towards automation, part of its ‘Made in China 2025’ strategy, is a clear statement of global competitiveness, with China betting on AI and robotics to spearhead the next manufacturing era.

The coordinated industrial policy has led to China becoming the world’s largest market for industrial robots and a significant innovator in the field. The implications of robots like the Walker S2, built for non-stop operation, extend far beyond traditional factory floors.

Their ability to manage physical tasks continuously could redefine work in various sectors. Industries such as logistics, with vast warehouses requiring constant material handling, or airports, where baggage and cargo movement is ceaseless, benefit immensely.

Hospitals could also see these humanoids assisting with logistical duties, allowing human staff to concentrate on direct patient care. For businesses, the promise of 24/7 automation translates directly into increased output without additional human resources, ensuring operations move seamlessly day and night.

The Walker S2 exemplifies how advanced automation rapidly moves beyond research labs into practical, demanding workplaces. With its autonomous battery-swapping capability, humanoid robots are poised to work extended hours that far exceed human capacity.

The robots do not require coffee breaks or need sleep; they are designed for relentless productivity, marking a significant step towards a future where machines play an even more integral role in daily industrial and societal functions.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Z.ai unveils cheaper, advanced AI model GLM-4.5

Chinese AI startup Z.ai, formerly Zhipu, is increasing pressure on global competitors with its latest model, GLM-4.5. The company has adopted an aggressive open-source strategy to attract developers. Anyone can download and use the model without licensing fees or platform restrictions.

GLM-4.5 is designed with agentic AI, breaking tasks into smaller components for improved performance. By approaching problems step by step, the model delivers more accurate and efficient outcomes. Z.ai aims to stand out through both technical sophistication and affordability.

CEO Zhang Peng says the model runs on only eight Nvidia H20 chips, while DeepSeek’s model needs sixteen. Nvidia developed the H20 to comply with US export controls aimed at China. Reducing chip demand significantly lowers the model’s operational footprint.

Zhang said the company has enough computing power and is not seeking further hardware now. Z.ai plans to charge 11 cents per million input tokens, undercutting DeepSeek R1’s 14 cents. Output tokens will cost 28 cents per million, compared to DeepSeek’s 2.19 dollars.

Such pricing could reshape large language model deployment expectations, especially in resource-limited environments. High costs have long been a barrier to broader AI adoption. Z.ai appears to be positioning itself as a more accessible alternative.

Founded in 2019, Z.ai has raised more than 1.5 billion dollars from investors including Alibaba, Tencent, and Qiming Venture Partners. It has grown quickly from a research-focused lab to one of China’s most prominent AI contenders. A public listing in Greater China is reportedly being prepared.

OpenAI recently named Zhipu among the Chinese firms it considers strategically significant in global AI development. US authorities responded by restricting American companies from working with Z.ai. The startup has nonetheless continued to expand its model lineup and partnerships.

Chinese firms increasingly invest in open-source models, often with domestic hardware compatibility in mind. Moonshot, another Alibaba-backed company, released the Kimi K2 model. Kimi K2 has received praise for its performance in coding and mathematical tasks.

Tencent has joined the race with its HunyuanWorld-1.0 model, which is built to generate immersive 3D environments. The HunyuanWorld-1.0 can accelerate game development, virtual reality design, and simulation work. Cutting-edge features are being paired with highly efficient architectures.

Alibaba also introduced its Qwen3-Coder model to assist in code generation and debugging. Such AI tools are seeing increasing use in software engineering and education. Chinese developers are positioning themselves to compete with Western offerings such as OpenAI’s Codex and Anthropic’s Claude.

The momentum within China’s AI sector is accelerating despite geopolitical and trade restrictions. A clear shift is underway from imitation to innovation, with local startups advancing independent research. Many models are trained on China-specific datasets to optimise relevance and performance.

Z.ai’s strategy combines cost reduction, efficient chip use, and broad availability. The company can build community trust and encourage ecosystem growth by open-sourcing its tools. At the same time, pricing undercuts major rivals and could disrupt the market.

Global AI development is increasingly decentralised, with Chinese firms no longer just playing catch-up. Large-scale funding and state support are helping to close gaps in hardware and training infrastructure. Z.ai is one of several firms pushing toward greater technological autonomy.

Open-source AI development is also helping Chinese companies win favour with developers outside their borders. Many international teams are experimenting with Chinese models to diversify risk and reduce reliance on US tech. Z.ai’s GLM-4.5 is among the models gaining traction globally.

By offering a powerful, lightweight, and affordable model, Z.ai is setting a new benchmark in the industry. The combination of technical refinement and strategic pricing draws attention from investors and users. A new era of AI competition is emerging.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Huawei challenges Nvidia with AI super server

Huawei has unveiled its most powerful AI server, the CloudMatrix 384, to challenge Nvidia’s grip on the high-performance AI infrastructure market.

The system, launched at the World AI Conference in Shanghai, uses 384 Ascend 910C chips, significantly outnumbering Nvidia’s 72 B200 GPUs in the GB200 NVL72.

Although Nvidia’s GPUs remain more powerful individually, Huawei’s design relies on stacking and high-speed chip interconnection to boost overall performance.

The company claims the CloudMatrix 384 can deliver 300 petaflops of computing power, well above Nvidia’s 180 petaflops, though it consumes nearly four times more energy.

The US recently reversed its ban on Nvidia’s H20 chip exports to China, seeking to curb Huawei’s momentum. However, ongoing reports of smuggled Nvidia GPUs raise doubts over the effectiveness of these restrictions.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

DeepSeek and others gain traction in US and EU

A recent survey has found that most US and the EU users are open to using Chinese large language models, even amid ongoing political and cybersecurity scrutiny.

According to the report, 71 percent of respondents in the US and 87 percent in the EU would consider adopting models developed in China.

The findings highlight increasing international curiosity about the capabilities of Chinese AI firms such as DeepSeek, which have recently attracted global attention.

While the technology is gaining credibility, many Western users remain cautious about data privacy and infrastructure control.

More than half of those surveyed said they would only use Chinese AI models if hosted outside China. However, this suggests that while trust in the models’ performance is growing, concerns over data governance remain a significant barrier to adoption.

The results come amid heightened global competition in the AI race, with Chinese developers rapidly advancing to challenge US-based leaders. DeepSeek and similar firms now face balancing global outreach with geopolitical limitations.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Amazon exit highlights deepening AI divide between US and China

Amazon’s quiet wind-down of its Shanghai AI lab underscores a broader shift in global research dynamics, as escalating tensions between the US and China reshape how tech giants operate across borders.

Instead of expanding innovation hubs in China, major American firms are increasingly dismantling them.

The AWS lab, once central to Amazon’s AI research, produced tools said to have generated nearly $1bn in revenue and over 100 academic papers.

Yet its dissolution reflects a growing push from Washington to curb China’s access to cutting-edge technology, including restrictions on advanced chips and cloud services.

As IBM and Microsoft have also scaled back operations or relocated talent away from mainland China, a pattern is emerging: strategic retreat. Rather than risking compliance issues or regulatory scrutiny, US tech companies are choosing to restructure globally and reduce local presence in China altogether.

With Amazon already having exited its Chinese ebook and ecommerce markets, the shuttering of its AI lab signals more than a single closure — it reflects a retreat from joint innovation and a widening technological divide that may shape the future of AI competition.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Trump AI strategy targets China and cuts red tape

The Trump administration has revealed a sweeping new AI strategy to cement US dominance in the global AI race, particularly against China.

The 25-page ‘America’s AI Action Plan’ proposes 90 policy initiatives, including building new data centres nationwide, easing regulations, and expanding exports of AI tools to international allies.

White House officials stated the plan will boost AI development by scrapping federal rules seen as restrictive and speeding up construction permits for data infrastructure.

A key element involves monitoring Chinese AI models for alignment with Communist Party narratives, while promoting ‘ideologically neutral’ systems within the US. Critics argue the approach undermines efforts to reduce bias and favours politically motivated AI regulation.

The action plan also supports increased access to federal land for AI-related construction and seeks to reverse key environmental protections. Analysts have raised concerns over energy consumption and rising emissions linked to AI data centres.

While the White House claims AI will complement jobs rather than replace them, recent mass layoffs at Indeed and Salesforce suggest otherwise.

Despite the controversy, the announcement drew optimism from investors. AI stocks saw mixed trading, with NVIDIA, Palantir and Oracle gaining, while Alphabet slipped slightly. Analysts described the move as a ‘watershed moment’ for US tech, signalling an aggressive stance in the global AI arms race.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Amazon closes AI research lab in Shanghai as global focus shifts

Amazon is shutting down its AI research lab in Shanghai, marking another step in its gradual withdrawal from China. The move comes amid continuing US–China trade tensions and a broader trend of American tech companies reassessing their presence in the country.

The company said the decision was part of a global streamlining effort rather than a response to AI concerns.

A spokesperson for AWS said the company had reviewed its organisational priorities and decided to cut some roles across certain teams. The exact number of job losses has not been confirmed.

Before Amazon’s confirmation, one of the lab’s senior researchers noted on WeChat that the Shanghai site was the final overseas AWS AI research lab and attributed its closure to shifts in US–China strategy.

The team had built a successful open-source graph neural network framework known as DGL, which reportedly brought in nearly $1 billion in revenue for Amazon’s e-commerce arm.

Amazon has been reducing its footprint in China for several years. It closed its domestic online marketplace in 2019, halted Kindle sales in 2022, and recently laid off AWS staff in the US.

Other tech giants including IBM and Microsoft have also shut down China-based research units this year, while some Chinese AI firms are now relocating operations abroad instead of remaining in a volatile domestic environment.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Alibaba’s Qwen3 upgrade beats OpenAI and DeepSeek on benchmarks

Alibaba has unveiled a significant update to its flagship open‑source Qwen3 family, spotlighting the Qwen3‑235B‑A22B‑Instruct‑2507‑FP8 model.

However, this revision delivers enhanced capabilities across multiple domains, such as instruction understanding, logical reasoning, text analysis, mathematics, science, coding, and tool integration, and pushes Qwen3 to the top of several key benchmarks.

The upgraded model scored 70.3 on the American Invitational Mathematics Exam in competitive metrics, well ahead of DeepSeek‑V3 (46.6) and OpenAI’s GPT‑4o (26.7).

In MultiPL‑E, which evaluates coding, it achieved 87.9, beating DeepSeek (82.2) and OpenAI (82.7), though Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4 edged ahead with 88.5.

A notable technical advancement is the eightfold increase in context capacity to 256k tokens, allowing it to process longer documents in non‑thinking mode.

The open‑source release on reputable platforms like HuggingFace and ModelScope reinforces Alibaba’s commitment to building a transparent, high‑performance AI ecosystem.

This update intensifies competition in China’s AI landscape, with Alibaba closing the benchmark gap versus Western leaders and rival Chinese startups such as DeepSeek, whose upgraded R1‑0528 has reportedly matched Qwen3 in some reasoning tasks.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Android malware infects millions of devices globally

Millions of Android-based devices have been infected by a new strain of malware called BadBox 2.0, prompting urgent warnings from Google and the FBI. The malicious software can trigger ransomware attacks and collect sensitive user data.

The infected devices are primarily cheap, off-brand products manufactured in China, many of which come preloaded with the malware. Models such as the X88 Pro 10, T95, and QPLOVE Q9 are among those identified as compromised.

Google has launched legal action to shut down the illegal operation, calling BadBox 2.0 the largest botnet linked to internet-connected TVs. The FBI has advised the public to disconnect any suspicious devices and check for unusual network activity.

The malware generates illicit revenue through adware and poses broader cybersecurity threats, including denial-of-service attacks. Consumers are urged to avoid unofficial products and verify devices are Play Protect-certified before use.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!