Whispers

Yiren Technology has secured tens of millions of RMB in a new funding round, following a previous successful close. The company has surpassed 100 million RMB in annual revenue from its AI data services, marking it as the first in China's AI data sector to achieve profitability. AI

Xunfei's Doubao LLM is reportedly receiving enhanced capabilities, though specific details remain undisclosed. Separately, Scenovation Technology has secured nearly $100 million in Series C funding, led by Suzhou Industrial Park Investment Group, to advance its automotive and embodied AI chip development. Additionally, a report from Scotiabank predicts a global copper deficit of 350,000 tons by 2027, driven by robust demand and supply-side challenges. AI

SKC, a subsidiary of SK Group, plans to raise 1.17 trillion Korean won (approximately 5.3 billion RMB) through a new stock issuance. A significant portion of these funds, around 589.6 billion won, will be allocated to its subsidiary Absolix to advance its glass substrate business. Absolix is already collaborating with a US semiconductor company on prototypes for next-generation communication semiconductors. AI

Samsung Electronics is set to begin providing samples of its next-generation CXL 3.1 memory modules (CMM-D) to major server and data center manufacturers in the third quarter. Following customer quality certification, the company plans to initiate mass production preparations, including finalizing production scale and schedules for the fourth quarter. Separately, Google's new Gemini Omni model has been previewed, showcasing its ability to accurately interpret and process video content, including complex academic scenarios. AI

Samsung Electronics is preparing to mass-produce memory modules supporting the next-generation CXL 3.1 standard in the fourth quarter. The company will begin supplying samples of these CXL Memory Modules for Datacenters (CMM-D) to major server and datacenter manufacturers in the third quarter. Following quality certification from these clients, Samsung will finalize production scale and plans for the fourth quarter launch. AI

快手计划将其AI部门可灵（Kling）分拆出来，并寻求20亿美元的融资。此举表明了公司对AI业务的重视以及对独立发展的期望。此前，快手已在AI领域进行了大量投入，但面临预算快速消耗的挑战。 AI

AI safety firm Anthropic is reportedly in early-stage talks to acquire developer tools startup Stainless for at least $300 million. The deal may also involve Anthropic contributing some of its own stock as part of the acquisition. Negotiations are ongoing, and the final terms are subject to change. AI

South Korean AI startup RLWRLD is developing a robotics foundation model by collecting data from skilled human workers across various industries. This initiative aims to train robots to perform complex physical tasks, mirroring human dexterity and expertise. The company is gathering data from hotel staff, logistics workers, and convenience store employees to build a comprehensive library of human skills for future industrial and domestic robots. This effort is part of South Korea's broader strategy to become a leader in physical AI, leveraging its manufacturing strengths. AI

Dessn, a design tool startup, has secured $6 million in funding to enhance its production-focused platform. The tool allows designers to work directly within a live codebase in the cloud, abstracting away setup complexities. This approach aims to streamline the handoff between design and development teams, differentiating it from ideation-focused tools. Dessn plans to integrate with collaboration tools like Slack and meeting notetakers to further automate design prototyping. AI

NASA has partnered with Microchip Technology to develop new spaceflight chips offering 100 times the computing power of current offerings. These radiation-hardened and radiation-tolerant chips are designed for extended missions on the Moon, Mars, and beyond, as well as for commercial low Earth orbit satellites. The High-Performance Spaceflight Computing project aims to integrate computing and networking capabilities onto a single, scalable device, potentially enabling greater spacecraft autonomy and finding Earth-bound applications in areas like AI and medical equipment. AI

Roadrunner, a startup co-founded by Joubin Mirzadegan, has secured $27 million in funding to develop AI-native configure, price, quote (CPQ) software. The company aims to streamline complex sales deals and revenue generation by modernizing the quote-to-cash process, which has become increasingly complicated due to evolving pricing models. Roadrunner's approach, termed PQA (prompt, quote, approve), leverages AI to manage deal negotiations and approvals, addressing a market described as a 'blue ocean' opportunity. AI

In April, China's securities market saw 149,900 new margin trading accounts, a 12.44% decrease from the previous month but a 41.54% increase year-over-year. Tencent Music reported its first-quarter financial results, with total revenue reaching 7.9 billion yuan, a 7.3% increase year-over-year, and adjusted net profit at 2.33 billion yuan, up 4.8%. Additionally, Kuaishou is reportedly planning to spin off its AI company, Keling AI, and raise $2 billion. AI

Hongde Co., Ltd. plans to raise up to 560 million yuan through a private placement of A shares. The funds will be invested in intelligent manufacturing for key aluminum alloy components in high-end equipment and to supplement working capital. Separately, Kuaishou plans to spin off its AI subsidiary Keling AI and is seeking $2 billion in funding. AI

The 2026 AI Partner·Beijing Yizhuang AI+ Industry Conference, scheduled for May 19-20, 2026, will focus on practical AI implementation rather than theoretical capabilities. The event aims to bridge the gap between AI technology and industry needs, showcasing real-world applications and solutions. It will feature discussions on AI's role in driving productivity, practical case studies, and talent strategies for integrating AI into the workforce. AI

SenseMartGo, a new robotic convenience store solution from SenseTime's SenseTime Huihui, has opened its first three locations in Shanghai. These stores utilize embodied AI to handle all retail tasks, from sales to inventory management, and can operate autonomously 24/7. The system aims to redefine offline retail by integrating AI-driven operations, diverse product offerings including non-standard items, and personalized customer interactions. AI

Siemens is reportedly exploring the acquisition of Mer Mec, an Italian manufacturer specializing in railway signaling and communication equipment. Separately, the announcement of a stock price anomaly by Mona Lisa Group clarified that its core business remains architectural ceramics, with no significant revenue or profit generated from semiconductor materials. Additionally, Kuaishou plans to spin off its AI company, Keling AI, and is seeking $2 billion in funding. AI

Douyin Group's short drama copyright center is launching initiatives to support real-person short dramas, including a budget exceeding 1.5 billion yuan by 2026. Separately, Kuaishou plans to spin off its AI company, Keling AI, and is seeking $2 billion in funding. The cluster also mentions former US President Trump's anticipation for a trip to China and OPPO's accountability notice regarding a Mother's Day campaign. AI

Chengdu Yuzhilingdong Technology, also known as Walulu, has secured tens of millions of RMB in angel and pre-A funding rounds. The company's core product is an AI-powered plush pet named Walulu, envisioned as the "Pokémon of the AI era." Walulu differentiates itself by prioritizing product design and IP operation over deep AI model development, focusing on user appeal as a toy first and an AI product second. This strategy has led to successful offline sales and expansion into international markets, with plans for further product iterations and IP collaborations. AI

智元机器人与香港政府及多方代表合作，启动了一项为期五年的“香港具身智能产业共创计划”。该计划旨在通过聚焦应用场景、创新创业、产学研合作、人才培养和国际合作，推动香港在具身智能领域达到“个、十、百、千、万”的发展目标。此举旨在加速具身智能技术与商业需求的结合，并助力中国具身智能产业走向全球。 AI

Huawei's previously low-profile chip research division was prominently featured on national television, coinciding with preparations for a visit by former US President Donald Trump to China. The segment highlighted Huawei's advancements in AI and semiconductors, underscoring China's drive for technological self-sufficiency amidst ongoing US sanctions. This development is closely monitored for insights into China's capacity to circumvent Western export restrictions, particularly concerning AI processors like Huawei's Ascend series, which aims to compete with Nvidia. AI

SAP has announced the completion of its acquisition of Reltio, a provider of master data management software. This strategic move aims to enhance SAP's capabilities in transforming disparate data from both SAP and non-SAP systems into AI-ready formats. The acquisition is expected to enable customers to leverage their data more effectively for AI applications, though specific financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. AI

Today's Sleep, a sleep health company founded by Wang Teng, has secured a new round of funding from multiple investors including CMC Capital, Cloud Nine Capital, Junli Capital, Hony Capital, and Hillhouse Ventures. This follows a seed round in January, which was backed by entities like Ziyuan Robot and Hillhouse Ventures. The company, established in January 2026, focuses on AI applications in health consulting and software development. AI

Kuaishou Technology is considering a potential spin-off and external financing for its AI subsidiary, Keling AI. The company has announced that its board of directors is evaluating a proposed restructuring of Keling AI's assets and business. This move aims to leverage external financial resources, though no final agreements have been reached, and the plan is still in its early stages. AI

Samsung Electronics' market capitalization has surpassed $1 trillion, making its controlling Lee family the four wealthiest individuals in South Korea. This surge is primarily driven by the immense demand for Samsung's memory chips, particularly high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which are crucial components for AI hardware from companies like Nvidia and AMD. The company's chip division reported record quarterly revenue and profit, with analysts predicting continued strong growth in HBM revenue due to the ongoing AI boom. AI

Anthropic has secured a significant compute deal with SpaceXAI, a newly merged entity combining SpaceX and xAI, to address Claude's token usage limits. This partnership is notable given Elon Musk's prior vocal criticism of Anthropic. The agreement grants Anthropic access to compute capacity at Musk's Colossus 1 data center, with future discussions about placing data centers in space. AI

Guangzhou has released its 2026 work plan for the AI industry, focusing on strengthening intelligent computing power and data element supply. The plan emphasizes a tiered development of data centers and optimizing construction standards for computing power projects. It also aims to improve data circulation mechanisms, deepen public data resource operation, and foster data sharing and fusion applications to create high-quality multimodal datasets. AI

Volkswagen Group is accelerating its transformation in China by launching over 20 new energy vehicles by 2026, with a focus on localized R&D and intelligent features. The company unveiled four new models, including the Audi E7X, a premium electric SUV developed with Momenta for advanced driver-assistance systems. Volkswagen is also integrating AI and large language models into its vehicles, aiming to be the first multinational automaker to apply AI capabilities across all its models in China. AI