ByteDance’s AI-video creator draws buzz for its realistic scenes and a backlash over privacy and copyright. https://t.co/fcsvuUqxaQ ...

Core Insights - Chinese tech giants, including Alibaba, ByteDance, and Kuaishou, have launched new AI models that demonstrate significant advancements in robotics and video generation, positioning them competitively against U.S. counterparts [2][4][12] Group 1: Alibaba's RynnBrain - Alibaba's DAMO Academy introduced RynnBrain, an AI model aimed at enhancing robots' ability to understand and interact with their environment, showcasing capabilities such as counting and picking up objects [4][6] - RynnBrain features built-in time and space awareness, allowing robots to track task progress and remember past events, making them more reliable in complex environments [6][7] - This innovation places Alibaba in direct competition with Nvidia and Google, who are also developing advanced AI models for robotics [6] Group 2: ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 - ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 is a video generation AI model that can create realistic videos from text prompts, including the ability to incorporate other videos and images [7][8] - Users have noted significant improvements in AI video generation technology over the past two years, with Seedance 2.0 being recognized for its controllability, speed, and production efficiency [10] - Despite its advancements, Seedance 2.0 faced challenges, including the suspension of a feature that generated voices based on uploaded images due to consent concerns [11] Group 3: Kuaishou's Kling 3.0 - Kuaishou launched Kling 3.0, a video generation model that boasts upgrades in consistency, photorealistic output, and extended video duration, with native audio generation capabilities [12] - The success of Kuaishou's Kling models has contributed to a more than 50% increase in its share price over the past year [13] Group 4: Other AI Model Releases - Zhipu AI released GLM-5, an open-source large-language model that reportedly approaches Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.5 in coding benchmarks [13][14] - MiniMax also launched its updated M2.5 open-source model, enhancing AI agent tools designed for task automation, leading to a surge in its shares [14]

Core Insights - Several companies are downsizing or postponing their U.S. IPOs in 2026 due to market volatility, valuation scrutiny, and weak peer performance [1][2] - Goldman Sachs analysts predict the number of IPOs will double to 120 this year, but caution about valuation risks highlighted by a selloff in software stocks [1] Company Actions - Clear Street has postponed its U.S. IPO, marking its second delayed listing this month due to "market conditions" [2][5] - Clear Street reduced its fundraising target by 65% before postponing the listing [3] - Agibank raised $240 million in its downsized U.S. IPO, selling 20 million shares at $12 each, down from an initial offering of approximately 43.6 million shares priced between $15 and $18 [4] - Liftoff Mobile has also postponed its planned New York listing, citing "current market conditions" amid a significant selloff in software stocks [5]

Core Viewpoint - ByteDance is in advanced negotiations to sell Shanghai Moonton Technology, the developer of the mobile game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, to Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group for a deal valued between $6 billion and $7 billion [1][2]. Company Summary - The potential deal could be finalized as soon as this quarter, with initial agreements on broad terms already reached [2]. - ByteDance's sale of Moonton represents a significant retreat from the online gaming sector, following a restructuring decision made in 2023 [3]. - ByteDance acquired Moonton in 2021 for approximately $4 billion, aiming to establish a competitive international gaming business [4]. - Moonton, founded in 2014, has over 2,000 employees and operates in multiple regions, including Southeast Asia and Latin America [5]. Industry Summary - The sale of Moonton is part of a broader trend of consolidation within the video game industry, as companies seek to enhance their intellectual property (IP) and expand their market presence [3]. - Savvy Games Group, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, is actively pursuing growth through acquisitions, having recently acquired Scopely for $4.9 billion [6]. - ByteDance's valuation has significantly increased over the past year, coinciding with its strategic shift away from gaming [6][9].

12 February 2026 | 9:30PM HKT Equity Research Kuaishou Technology (1024.HK) Key debates on Kling vs. Seedance, tax overhang and 2026 growth; Buy 1024.HK 12m Price Target: HK$87.00 Price: HK$69.55 Upside: 25.1% We dissect the key investor debates on Kuaishou that have come up in our conversations over the past 2 months around its Kling AI's potential and competition vs. peers (Seedance 2.0 etc.), various tax related issues and a potential tax overhang in 2026 ("traffic acquisition tax", "eCommerce related ta ...

Group 1: Life in Taiwan - Taiwan is characterized as a highly convenient place to live, with a mix of commercial and residential areas that enhance accessibility [7][8] - The food culture in Taiwan is highlighted, particularly the popularity of night markets and the convenience of food delivery services like Uber Eats [10][11] - Despite its rich culture and proximity to natural beauty, Taiwan is described as having an unattractive urban landscape, with many dilapidated buildings [9] Group 2: Ads and AI - The discussion emphasizes the importance of advertising as an efficient monetization strategy, contrasting it with skepticism prevalent in the tech industry [22][23] - The effectiveness of ads is noted, particularly in how they can enhance consumer experiences by introducing products that users may not have been aware of [30][31] - The conversation critiques the current ad models in AI applications, suggesting that they should focus on user profiling rather than context-based targeting to avoid user suspicion [35][36] Group 3: Meta's Platform Dynamics - Meta's struggle with its identity as a platform versus an advertising company is discussed, indicating that its focus on being a platform has hindered its advertising potential [51][58] - The conversation points out that Meta's success is largely due to its feed and targeted advertising, which has proven to be effective in engaging users [53][56] - The need for Meta to embrace its role as an entertainment company rather than solely a social media platform is emphasized, suggesting that this shift could improve its long-term viability [58][60] Group 4: TikTok and ByteDance - The complexities surrounding TikTok's ownership and the control of its algorithm by ByteDance are highlighted, indicating that the U.S. political process has failed to address this critical issue [66][68] - The discussion reflects on the implications of having a major information source controlled by a geopolitical adversary, raising concerns about national security and information integrity [67][68] - The conversation concludes that the outcome of the TikTok situation has resulted in a failure to secure control over the algorithm, which is seen as a significant oversight [68][70] Group 5: Agentic Commerce - The potential for AI to transform e-commerce through agentic commerce is explored, suggesting that AI could streamline the purchasing process and enhance user experience [90][91] - The conversation outlines a multi-level approach to improving e-commerce, starting with better user interfaces and progressing to personalized recommendations based on user preferences [92][93] - The discussion acknowledges the existing power of advertising in driving consumer behavior, suggesting that AI could further enhance this by anticipating user needs [96][97]

SoftBank Group returned to profit in the December quarter as gains tied to OpenAI lifted its Vision Fund, helping counter losses across other technology bets. The Japanese investment firm reported a s... ...

China's Lenovo warns of PC shipment pressure from memory shortage | ReutersSkip to main content[Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv]Lenovo Chairman and CEO Yang Yuanqing speaks at the opening ceremony of the World Internet Conference (WIC) in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, China, November 23, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab]BEIJING, Feb 12 (Reuters) - China's Lenovo Group [(0992.HK), opens new tab] warned on T ...

By Eduardo Baptista BEIJING, Feb 12 (Reuters) - One year after Chinese startup DeepSeek rattled the global tech industry with the release of a low-cost artificial intelligence model, its domestic rivals are better prepared, vying with it to launch new models, some designed with more consumer appeal. The Hangzhou-based firm's meteoric rise in early ‌2025, during China's Spring Festival holiday, upended China's AI industry, pushing low-cost, open-source models to the forefront of its AI ecosystem. This ...

Takeaways from China Internet expert call Douyin's local service eyes 40% growth in FY26E on deeper penetration in lower tier markets and hotel booking Nomura's China internet team is hosting its 2026 China Internet Insight expert call series from 28 January to 6 February 2026. Industry experts from various internet sectors have been invited to share their insights on the outlook for 2026E. We believe the information from industry experts could help our clients make better-informed investment decisions. (Pl ...