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Business Standard
4 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
DeepSeek, Trump's plan steer agenda at China's most important AI summit
Star founders, Beijing officials and deep-pocketed financiers converge on Shanghai by the thousands this weekend to attend China's most important AI summit. At the top of the agenda: how to propel Beijing's ambitions to leapfrog the US in artificial intelligence — and profit off that drive. The World Artificial Intelligence Conference, which has featured Elon Musk and Jack Ma in years past, was devised to showcase the cutting-edge of Chinese technology. This year's attendance may hit a record as it's taking place at a critical juncture in the US-Chinese tech rivalry. This week, US President Donald Trump unveiled his so-called AI Action Plan — a sort of call to arms to ensure the country keeps its lead in the post-ChatGPT epoch. At the same time, the emergence of DeepSeek in January galvanised a generation of Chinese developers to ride a nationwide investment and innovation wave. From Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. to fledgling firms such as Minimax, the country's AI aspirants have since moved aggressively to try and close the gap with the likes of OpenAI and Google. 'While many recognise DeepSeek's achievements, this represents just the beginning of China's AI innovation wave,' said Louis Liang, an AI sector investor with Ameba Capital. 'We are witnessing the advent of AI mass adoption, this goes beyond national competition.' The Shanghai conference rundown for now remains largely unknown — as it has in years past just days before kickoff. Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend, and tech leaders from Tencent Holdings Ltd. to ByteDance Ltd. and startups like Zhipu AI and Moonshot are likely to turn out in force. Here's what we can expect from the summit starting Saturday. DeepSeek's aura Neither the startup nor its reclusive founder Liang Wenfeng feature in the advance literature for the event. And yet, the two-year-old firm is likely to be one of the topics du jour. Since its low-cost, high-performance AI model humbled much of Silicon Valley, the industry has watched China closely for another seismic moment. In a field notorious for splashing billions of dollars on Nvidia Corp. chips and data centers, DeepSeek's no-frills approach inspired a re-think of traditional models. And it challenged what till then was unquestioned US supremacy in bleeding-edge technology: Xi Jinping himself turned out in public in February to congratulate Liang and his fellow tech entrepreneurs. China craves another big breakthrough. Downloads and usage of DeepSeek models have slowed, as has the pace of new model rollouts that peaked over the spring at once every few days. Now, much of the industry talk centers on why DeepSeek's R2 — the followup to its seminal R1 — hasn't yet emerged. Local media have blamed everything from Liang's perfectionist streak to performance glitches. Trump's, and Xi's, ambitions The conference gets underway days after the US leader signed executive orders to loosen regulations and expand energy supplies for data centers. 'From this day forward, it'll be a policy of the United States to do whatever it takes to lead the world in artificial intelligence,' Trump told executives and lawmakers at a DC event. Among the attendees was Jensen Huang, whose Nvidia is one of the companies at the heart of the global AI movement. Much has been made in Washington of China's seemingly meteoric ascent in AI, with observers saying the country is now perhaps just months behind the US in terms of AI sophistication. That's a wafer-thin margin compared with sectors such as semiconductors, where America is regarded as many years or even generations ahead. Trump's newly announced action plan is likely to spur Chinese companies into accelerating their own plans to go global, in part by aggressively open-sourcing their AI platforms. Beijing wants AI to become a $100 billion industry by 2030. At the Communist Party's April Politburo study session, Xi emphasized that China must push for breakthroughs in critical areas like high-end chips and AI research. Rise of the robots Chinese humanoid makers are expected to showcase their most advanced models. Last week, UBTech posted a video of its Walker S2 humanoid walking to a battery station, removing the pack from its back, placing it on the recharge pad before fitting itself with a new battery. While obviously edited and choreographed, it encapsulated the advances that Chinese firms have made in a wide-open field — and their lofty ambitions. Unitree teased a bargain-basement price of under $10,000 for its androids. It joins the likes of AgiBot and UBTech in collectively driving a promising field in which American companies have so far failed to stake out a clear lead, despite decades of effort. The Chinese companies 'are targeting hundreds to thousands of units to be delivered this year, racing to establish the ecosystem,' Morgan Stanley analyst Sheng Wong said in a note this week. Show the money Venture capitalists and deal-makers will be hunting for emerging tech leaders. And not all of them are Chinese. China's largest venture capital houses are tapping the market for at least $2 billion in new funds. At least six of the country's most prominent VC firms — including Lightspeed China Partners and Monolith Management — are creating dollar-denominated funds designed to allow overseas investors to pool bets on Chinese companies. That's a wave of fundraising that hasn't been seen among Chinese VCs for years. It's unfolding as global investors reassess the country's startup landscape and economy, which are showing signs of revival after years of Covid-era stagnation and regulatory headwinds. Organizers promise a breakout event that will feature startup pitches and live demos for dealmakers. Startups by the hundreds are expected to fill a 70,000 sq-meter exhibition hall, showing off everything from autonomous delivery drones to machines that dispense toilet paper. Missing global touch Attendees are unlikely to spot US companies — at least not in major fashion. In 2024, Tesla Inc. popped up with its Cybertruck and Optimus robot. This year's speaker lineup doesn't (yet) include Musk but does list Yoshua Bengio, the Canadian scientist who pioneered artificial neural networks. With the US-China tech rivalry accelerating, many American companies remain wary of drawing the spotlight. Still, Beijing is likely to take the opportunity to continue pushing its international agenda. One of the conference centerpieces is a 'High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance' to discuss the challenges in deploying AI responsibly. To many observers, it's also emblematic of China's overarching goal of setting global standards. 'Since 2018, China has used WAIC to stake its claim on global AI technical and political leadership,' said Tom Nunlist, associate director of the Beijing-based consultancy Trivium. 'With the race to AI now neck and neck between the US and China, that play is more compelling than ever.'
Japan Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Japan Times
DeepSeek, Trump's plan steer agenda at China's premier AI forum
Star founders, Beijing officials and deep-pocketed financiers converge on Shanghai by the thousands this weekend to attend China's most important artificial intelligence summit. At the top of the agenda: how to propel Beijing's ambitions to leapfrog the U.S. in AI — and profit off that drive. The World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), which has featured billionaire entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Jack Ma in years past, was devised to showcase the cutting-edge of Chinese technology. This year's attendance may hit a record as it's taking place at a critical juncture in the U.S.-Chinese tech rivalry. This week, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his so-called AI Action Plan — a sort of call to arms to ensure the country keeps its lead in the post-ChatGPT epoch. At the same time, the emergence of DeepSeek in January galvanized a generation of Chinese developers to ride a nationwide investment and innovation wave. From Alibaba Group Holding to fledgling firms such as Minimax, the country's AI aspirants have since moved aggressively to try and close the gap with the likes of OpenAI and Google. "While many recognize DeepSeek's achievements, this represents just the beginning of China's AI innovation wave,' said Louis Liang, an AI sector investor with Ameba Capital. "We are witnessing the advent of AI mass adoption, this goes beyond national competition.' The Shanghai conference rundown for now remains largely unknown — as it has in years past just days before kickoff. Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend, and tech leaders from Tencent Holdings to ByteDance and startups like Zhipu AI and Moonshot are likely to turn out in force. Here's what we can expect from the summit starting Saturday. DeepSeek's aura Neither the startup nor its reclusive founder Liang Wenfeng feature in the advance literature for the event. And yet, the two-year-old firm is likely to be one of the topics du jour. Since its low-cost, high-performance AI model humbled much of Silicon Valley, the industry has watched China closely for another seismic moment. In a field notorious for splashing billions of dollars on Nvidia chips and data centers, DeepSeek's no-frills approach inspired a rethink of traditional models. And it challenged what till then was unquestioned U.S. supremacy in bleeding-edge technology: Chinese President Xi Jinping himself turned out in public in February to congratulate Liang and his fellow tech entrepreneurs. China craves another big breakthrough. Downloads and usage of DeepSeek models have slowed, as has the pace of new model rollouts that peaked over the spring at once every few days. Now, much of the industry talk centers on why DeepSeek's R2 — the followup to its seminal R1 — hasn't yet emerged. Local media have blamed everything from Liang's perfectionist streak to performance glitches. Trump's — and Xi's — ambitions The conference gets underway days after Trump signed executive orders to loosen regulations and expand energy supply for data centers. "From this day forward, it'll be a policy of the United States to do whatever it takes to lead the world in artificial intelligence,' Trump told executives and lawmakers at an event in Washington. Among the attendees was Jensen Huang, whose Nvidia is one of the companies at the heart of the global AI movement. Huang waves at the "Winning the AI Race" event in Washington on Wednesday. | Getty Images / via Bloomberg Much has been made in Washington of China's seemingly meteoric ascent in AI, with observers saying the country is now perhaps just months behind the U.S. in terms of AI sophistication. That's a wafer-thin margin compared with sectors such as semiconductors, where America is regarded as many years or even generations ahead. Trump's newly announced action plan is likely to spur Chinese companies into accelerating their own plans to go global, in part by aggressively open-sourcing their AI platforms. Beijing wants AI to become a $100 billion industry by 2030. At the Chinese Communist Party's April Politburo study session, Xi emphasized that China must push for breakthroughs in critical areas such as high-end chips and AI research. Rise of the robots Chinese humanoid makers are expected to showcase their most advanced models. Last week, UBTech posted a video of its Walker S2 humanoid walking to a battery station, removing the pack from its back, placing it on the recharge pad before fitting itself with a new battery. While obviously edited and choreographed, it encapsulated the advances that Chinese firms have made in a wide-open field — and their lofty ambitions. Unitree teased a bargain-basement price of under $10,000 for its androids. It joins the likes of AgiBot and UBTech in collectively driving a promising field in which American companies have so far failed to stake out a clear lead, despite decades of effort. The Chinese companies "are targeting hundreds to thousands of units to be delivered this year, racing to establish the ecosystem,' Morgan Stanley analyst Sheng Wong said in a note this week. Show the money Venture capitalists and dealmakers will be hunting for emerging tech leaders. And not all of them are Chinese. China's largest venture capital houses are tapping the market for at least $2 billion in new funds. At least six of the country's most prominent VC firms — including Lightspeed China Partners and Monolith Management — are creating dollar-denominated funds designed to allow overseas investors to pool bets on Chinese companies. That's a wave of fundraising that hasn't been seen among Chinese VCs for years. It's unfolding as global investors reassess the country's startup landscape and economy, which are showing signs of revival after years of COVID-era stagnation and regulatory headwinds. Organizers promise a breakout event that will feature startup pitches and live demos for dealmakers. Startups by the hundreds are expected to fill a 70,000-square-meter exhibition hall, showing off everything from autonomous delivery drones to machines that dispense toilet paper. Missing global touch Attendees are unlikely to spot U.S. companies — at least not in major fashion. In 2024, Tesla popped up with its Cybertruck and Optimus robot. This year's speaker lineup doesn't (yet) include Musk but does list Yoshua Bengio, the Canadian scientist who pioneered artificial neural networks. With the U.S.-China tech rivalry accelerating, many American companies remain wary of drawing the spotlight. Still, Beijing is likely to take the opportunity to continue pushing its international agenda. One of the conference centerpieces is a "High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance' to discuss the challenges in deploying AI responsibly. To many observers, it's also emblematic of China's overarching goal of setting global standards. "Since 2018, China has used WAIC to stake its claim on global AI technical and political leadership,' said Tom Nunlist, associate director of the Beijing-based consultancy Trivium. "With the race to AI now neck and neck between the U.S. and China, that play is more compelling than ever.'
The Star
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
DeepSeek, Trump's plan steer agenda at China's premier AI forum
SHANGHAI: Star founders, Beijing officials and deep-pocketed financiers converge on Shanghai by the thousands this weekend to attend China's most important AI summit. At the top of the agenda: how to propel Beijing's ambitions to leapfrog the US in artificial intelligence - and profit off that drive. The World Artificial Intelligence Conference, which has featured Elon Musk and Jack Ma in years past, was devised to showcase the cutting-edge of Chinese technology. This year's attendance may hit a record as it's taking place at a critical juncture in the US-Chinese tech rivalry. This week, US President Donald Trump unveiled his so-called AI Action Plan - a sort of call to arms to ensure the country keeps its lead in the post-ChatGPT epoch. At the same time, the emergence of DeepSeek in January galvanised a generation of Chinese developers to ride a nationwide investment and innovation wave. From Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. to fledgling firms such as Minimax, the country's AI aspirants have since moved aggressively to try and close the gap with the likes of OpenAI and Google. "While many recognise DeepSeek's achievements, this represents just the beginning of China's AI innovation wave,' said Louis Liang, an AI sector investor with Ameba Capital. "We are witnessing the advent of AI mass adoption, this goes beyond national competition.' The Shanghai conference rundown for now remains largely unknown - as it has in years past just days before kickoff. Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend, and tech leaders from Tencent Holdings Ltd. to ByteDance Ltd. and startups like Zhipu AI and Moonshot are likely to turn out in force. Here's what we can expect from the summit starting Saturday. DeepSeek's Aura Neither the startup nor its reclusive founder Liang Wenfeng feature in the advance literature for the event. And yet, the two-year-old firm is likely to be one of the topics du jour. Since its low-cost, high-performance AI model humbled much of Silicon Valley, the industry has watched China closely for another seismic moment. In a field notorious for splashing billions of dollars on Nvidia Corp. chips and data centres, DeepSeek's no-frills approach inspired a re-think of traditional models. And it challenged what till then was unquestioned US supremacy in bleeding-edge technology: Xi Jinping himself turned out in public in February to congratulate Liang and his fellow tech entrepreneurs. China craves another big breakthrough. Downloads and usage of DeepSeek models have slowed, as has the pace of new model rollouts that peaked over the spring at once every few days. Now, much of the industry talk centres on why DeepSeek's R2 - the followup to its seminal R1 - hasn't yet emerged. Local media have blamed everything from Liang's perfectionist streak to performance glitches. Trump's, and Xi's, Ambitions The conference gets underway days after the US leader signed executive orders to loosen regulations and expand energy supplies for data centres. "From this day forward, it'll be a policy of the United States to do whatever it takes to lead the world in artificial intelligence,' Trump told executives and lawmakers at a DC event. Among the attendees was Jensen Huang, whose Nvidia is one of the companies at the heart of the global AI movement. Much has been made in Washington of China's seemingly meteoric ascent in AI, with observers saying the country is now perhaps just months behind the US in terms of AI sophistication. That's a wafer-thin margin compared with sectors such as semiconductors, where America is regarded as many years or even generations ahead. Trump's newly announced action plan is likely to spur Chinese companies into accelerating their own plans to go global, in part by aggressively open-sourcing their AI platforms. Beijing wants AI to become a US$100 billion industry by 2030. At the Communist Party's April Politburo study session, Xi emphasised that China must push for breakthroughs in critical areas like high-end chips and AI research. Rise of the Robots Chinese humanoid makers are expected to showcase their most advanced models. Last week, UBTech posted a video of its Walker S2 humanoid walking to a battery station, removing the pack from its back, placing it on the recharge pad before fitting itself with a new battery. While obviously edited and choreographed, it encapsulated the advances that Chinese firms have made in a wide-open field - and their lofty ambitions. Unitree teased a bargain-basement price of under US$10,000 for its androids. It joins the likes of AgiBot and UBTech in collectively driving a promising field in which American companies have so far failed to stake out a clear lead, despite decades of effort. The Chinese companies "are targeting hundreds to thousands of units to be delivered this year, racing to establish the ecosystem,' Morgan Stanley analyst Sheng Wong said in a note this week. Show the Money Venture capitalists and deal-makers will be hunting for emerging tech leaders. And not all of them are Chinese. China's largest venture capital houses are tapping the market for at least US$2 billion in new funds. At least six of the country's most prominent VC firms - including Lightspeed China Partners and Monolith Management - are creating dollar-denominated funds designed to allow overseas investors to pool bets on Chinese companies. That's a wave of fundraising that hasn't been seen among Chinese VCs for years. It's unfolding as global investors reassess the country's startup landscape and economy, which are showing signs of revival after years of Covid-era stagnation and regulatory headwinds. Organizers promise a breakout event that will feature startup pitches and live demos for dealmakers. Startups by the hundreds are expected to fill a 70,000 sq-metre exhibition hall, showing off everything from autonomous delivery drones to machines that dispense toilet paper. Missing Global Touch Attendees are unlikely to spot US companies - at least not in major fashion. In 2024, Tesla Inc. popped up with its Cybertruck and Optimus robot. This year's speaker lineup doesn't (yet) include Musk but does list Yoshua Bengio, the Canadian scientist who pioneered artificial neural networks. With the US-China tech rivalry accelerating, many American companies remain wary of drawing the spotlight. Still, Beijing is likely to take the opportunity to continue pushing its international agenda. One of the conference centerpieces is a "High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance' to discuss the challenges in deploying AI responsibly. To many observers, it's also emblematic of China's overarching goal of setting global standards. "Since 2018, China has used WAIC to stake its claim on global AI technical and political leadership,' said Tom Nunlist, associate director of the Beijing-based consultancy Trivium. "With the race to AI now neck and neck between the US and China, that play is more compelling than ever.' - Bloomberg
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
China tourists craving a taste of Penang's local life
Flocking to where the locals go: Chinese tourists are now visiting Pulau Tikus market along Jalan Burma, as part of their tour. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star GEORGE TOWN: Tourists from China are showing greater interest in off-the-beaten-path experiences in Penang compared to the usual attractions. They are often spotted at local food haunts and wet markets that Penangites frequent every day instead of the heritage enclave. Penang Tourist Guides Association chairman Clement Liang said repeat travellers from China often avoid busy tourist areas within the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site. 'They have seen the main attractions, like the murals, British colonial and Peranakan architecture. 'Now, they want to explore quieter places. We take them to Pulau Tikus, Teluk Bahang on Penang island and even Seberang Perai.' Liang said Pulau Tikus has become increasingly popular for its food and temples, with many tourists arriving with lists of food stalls and attractions to explore. 'There is the award-winning char koay teow stall, apam balik cooked on charcoal stoves and a franchise coffee outlet run by the deaf and mute in Pulau Tikus. 'Some also visit the prominent temples along Burma Lane, such as Buddhist temple Wat Chayamangkalaram, as part of their tour.' Liang said the visa waiver has allowed Chinese visitors to make multiple trips to the state, often returning to their favourite spots. Tour guides are also curating itineraries that extend tourism beyond George Town, helping to spread visitors across other areas. 'This helps local businesses and promotes sustainable tourism,' he said. Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang chapter chairman Tony Goh said hotel operators have seen steady growth in Chinese visitors and are preparing for more. 'With more direct flights expected, we foresee a larger wave of arrivals in 2026. They love our heritage, culture and local food, especially seafood and durians. 'One of the main draws is durian, and many visitors time their trips in July to coincide with the durian season,' Goh said. He added that hotels have started offering durian packages, including orchard visits and subsidies on durian buffet, to attract this market. 'We anticipate even more arrivals next year, as those who fly to Kuala Lumpur are expected to make a stop in Penang,' he said. Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said China is now Penang's second-largest source of international arrivals, overtaking Singapore. 'From January to May this year, we recorded 76,532 Chinese arrivals, which is a 117% increase compared to 35,322 in the same period last year. 'We are expanding air connectivity and working closely with airlines and stakeholders to restore and introduce more direct flights from major Chinese cities to Penang. 'Since late 2023, routes from Xiamen, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Hong Kong have been added. This improved connectivity is the backbone of our China strategy. 'Chartered and scheduled flights from Guiyang, Chongqing, Kunming and Xi'an are in the pipeline. 'We're also strengthening promotion efforts through roadshows, digital campaigns and travel platforms like Douyin, Weibo and Xiaohongshu,' he said, adding that Penang has participated in major travel expos in China as well. He said Penang's multilingualism and cultural familiarity with China has increased its appeal as a destination. He added that Penang's promotion of wedding, cultural, heritage and culinary tourism resonates well with Chinese travellers seeking personalised and meaningful travel experiences. 'Many Penangites speak Mandarin and Chinese dialects such as Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese and Hakka. This makes Chinese tourists feel welcome and at ease.'
The Star
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Feature: Young voices in harmony: Italian and Chinese choirs unite in Bologna
ROME, July 19 (Xinhua) -- At the Antoniano Institute in Bologna, music never stops. Home to Italy's most renowned children's choir - the Little Choir of Antoniano, this institute is a year-round haven for young voices. But this week, its familiar harmonies carried a new accent as melodies from China's Hydrangea Children's Choir blended with the Italian repertoire, marking a joyful celebration of cultural exchange. On Friday, the institute's studio hosted a special joint performance featuring 18 children from the two choirs. The young singers skipped inside hand-in-hand. With practiced ease, they lined up neatly on the stage and burst into a medley of Italian favorites. Classics like Il Coccodrillo Come Fa?, modern hits such as Discopizza DJ, and even a stirring rendition of Bella Ciao rang out, each met with enthusiastic applause from the audience. The performance was one highlights of Antoniano Summer Camp 2025, a ten-day cultural and musical exchange co-organized by the Little Choir of Antoniano and the Hydrangea Children's Choir. Guided by Antoniano's teachers, 22 children from China and their Italian peers rehearsed, played music games and gradually found a shared language through music. "Our teachers help us get the pronunciation right, word by word," said 11-year-old Mai Yijin, now in her second year at the camp. "They explain each song's meaning, helping us understand the emotions. During each rehearsal, an Italian choir member sits next to me, and their pronunciation is so beautiful. I try hard to match their tone." Luca Cesari, a 12-year-old, is a six-year veteran of the Little Choir of Antoniano. He said he enjoys rehearsing with the Chinese kids. "I've been learning Chinese for four years, and I've traveled to China with the choir. I love Chinese food, and I hope to study in China someday," he added. This summer camp is the latest chapter in a growing relationship between the two choirs. According to Liang Xiaoxia, art director of the Hydrangea Children's Choir, the Little Choir of Antoniano first visited China about 10 years ago for a New Year's concert. That was their debut performance in China. "Since that first trip, the choir has returned to China almost every year," Liang said. "Last year, they played five consecutive shows in Shanghai." Liang said the choir's appeal in China extends beyond their charming voices and stage presence. "It's not just the choir's free-spirited and expressive singing style, but the themes of their songs," she said. She added that the Little Choir of Antoniano makes an effort to sing in Chinese. "Every year, they learn one or two Chinese songs. Now they can sing more than a dozen, including The Brightest Star in the Sky, Mo Li Hua and Warrior of the Darkness." Giampaolo Cavalli, director of the Little Choir of Antoniano, said the camp fosters more than musical skills. "The children from Italy and China live together, break through language and cultural barriers, foster friendships, and enjoy the shared joy of music," he said.
