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China Puts Embodied Special-Purpose Robots Into Real Operations, Signaling Faster Industrial Automation

China has moved embodied intelligence from demos to deployment in special-purpose robots, with multiple domestically developed systems now operating in hazardous industrial and infrastructure scenarios, a step that could accelerate demand for industrial AI models and field-ready robotics across energy, shipping and grain logistics. State broadcaster CCTV reported

SAIC-GM-Wuling and CATL Deepen Ties With Fast-Charging Batteries, 3,000 Swap Stations Planned by 2026

SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile and Contemporary Amperex Technology signed a new strategic cooperation agreement on April 14 in Ningde, marking an expansion of a partnership that has already spanned nearly a decade across models such as the Hongguang MINI EV. Under the agreement, more than 15 new energy vehicle models

Xpeng Teases GX With AI Privacy Glass and 3,000 TOPS Compute as China Pushes “Physical AI” Into Full-Size SUVs

Xpeng on April 14 released official interior images of its GX flagship SUV, positioning the model as a “new technology flagship” that bundles AI-driven cabin hardware with high local compute—an approach that underscores how Chinese automakers are racing to differentiate through integrated AI features rather than incremental styling

Stanford’s 2026 AI Index Says China’s Top Models Are Closing the Gap With the US

Stanford University’s 2026 AI Index report argues the China–US AI race has shifted from a clear US lead to a near-parity contest at the model frontier, with performance gaps narrowing to low single digits even as funding, patents, talent flows and data-center scale remain structurally asymmetric.

MiniMax rolls out Pocket and “Computer Use” to push its desktop agent beyond the command line

MiniMax has expanded its desktop AI agent from a command-line helper into a screen-operating worker, betting that real productivity gains require control over local apps, internal systems and graphical interfaces that APIs can’t reach. The company on Tuesday launched two desktop updates: Pocket, a beta feature that

Amap to unveil Alibaba’s first quadruped robot, extending ABot models from maps into hardware

Alibaba Group Holding’s mapping unit Amap is preparing to launch its first quadruped robot, marking the group’s first commercial step into embodied robotics hardware and testing whether its ABot foundation models can translate digital navigation advantages into real-world autonomy. Sina Tech reported on April 14, 2026 that

Alibaba’s Qwen Launches Spreadsheet Agent, Pushing GenAI From Chat to Deliverable Excel Files

Alibaba Group Holding’s Tongyi Qwen has rolled out a Spreadsheet Agent that generates and edits native .xlsx files through chat, marking a shift from AI that “answers” to AI that “delivers” finished office assets. The product, announced April 14, 2026, is free across app, web and PC, and is

ChinaBiz Briefing | Honor Launches YOYO Claw, Alibaba Debuts HappyHorse, Geely Unveils AI iHEV

China’s tech ecosystem is accelerating across AI interfaces, robotics deployment and next-generation mobility. Honor and Tencent are pushing AI deeper into devices and enterprise workflows, while Alibaba expands multimodal capabilities. At the same time, robotics is moving into real-world scenarios, and automakers continue to experiment with new

Insta360 Luna Ultra Leak Signals Escalating 2026 Pocket Camera Hardware War

Leaked technical specifications for Insta360's upcoming Luna Ultra dual-lens pocket camera signal a strategic hardware escalation in the 2026 consumer electronics market, directly challenging industry leader DJI in the premium stabilization segment. Regulatory filings and leaked supply chain data revealed on Tuesday indicate the Luna Ultra will

Zhiyuan Robot ships Expedition A3 humanoids, testing China’s embodied AI in tourism & rentals.

Zhiyuan Robot said it has delivered the first batch of its Expedition A3 full-size humanoid robots, a milestone that shifts China’s embodied-AI race from prototype headlines to repeatable deployments—starting with revenue-generating use cases in tourism, entertainment and on-site operations. The company completed initial customer