Brief

European map provider TomTom has seen a tenfold increase in orders from Chinese automakers looking to expand internationally. The company is focusing on providing essential mapping and intelligent driving data to support Chinese car manufacturers in navigating complex overseas regulations and diverse road conditions. TomTom's platform offers standardized, scalable location data and software solutions, crucial for both in-car infotainment systems and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) used in global markets. AI

Tianji Robot, a Guangdong-based intelligent systems company, has secured approximately 1 billion yuan in Series B and B+ funding, valuing the company at nearly 10 billion yuan. The funding round was co-led by Hillhouse Ventures and Meituan Strategic Investment, with participation from Tencent and others. This capital infusion will support Tianji Robot's technological development, mass production, and global sales network expansion. AI

Tianji Robot has successfully closed a B and B+ funding round totaling 1 billion yuan, valuing the company at nearly 10 billion yuan and establishing it as a unicorn. The funding round was co-led by Hillhouse Ventures and Meituan Strategic Investment, with participation from Tencent, Gaorong Capital, and others. These funds will be allocated towards research and development, mass production, and expanding their global sales network. AI

The 2026 Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence (BAAI) Conference will convene leading global AI researchers and Chinese industry figures to discuss the future of artificial intelligence. Key themes include the advancement of intelligent agents and world models, which are seen as crucial for AI's next phase of development and potential AGI. The conference will also explore the implications of AI on education, the economy, and the development of embodied AI and human-robot interaction. AI

Beijing Vifan Intelligence Technology (Vifan Intelligence) has secured several hundred million yuan in seed funding to develop a novel "brain chip" for embodied AI robots. The company, incubated from a Peking University lab, is creating a unified chip architecture that merges traditional GPU capabilities with brain-inspired computing. This approach aims to reduce power consumption and cost compared to existing solutions like NVIDIA's Jetson series, addressing a gap in the domestic market for advanced robot core computing. AI

The AI industry is facing a scarcity of real-world, interactive data crucial for developing advanced AI like world models and embodied intelligence. Ride-hailing platforms, such as Ruqi Mobility, are emerging as significant data providers by leveraging their operational fleets to collect continuous, multi-modal driving data. This data, encompassing decision-making, vehicle responses, and environmental feedback, is vital for training AI that can understand and interact with the physical world, offering a more cost-effective and scalable solution than traditional data collection methods. AI

Manus founders are reportedly seeking $1 billion in external funding to buy back the AI company from Meta, aiming for a valuation of at least $2 billion. This potential "reverse acquisition" is in early stages, with significant technical challenges in separating Manus's AI technology from Meta's systems. Meanwhile, the Chinese recruitment platform Lagou.com has reportedly entered bankruptcy restructuring, with its parent company filing for bankruptcy review. The platform, once a unicorn in internet recruitment, has seen its operations decline significantly since being acquired by 51job. AI

Major Chinese gaming companies like Tencent, NetEase, and miHoYo are leveraging their expertise in game development to advance AI capabilities. Tencent is commercializing its AI decision-making and content generation tools for industries such as finance and film. NetEase is applying its AI technologies to robotics and smart mining operations, controlling physical machinery through game-like interfaces. MiHoYo is focusing on next-generation AI experiences, developing interactive NPCs and dynamically generated game narratives that could reshape virtual social interactions and content creation. AI