Since I published my pre-earnings note last week, Applied Digital (NASDAQ: APLD ) stock is up almost 24%. I was prompted to write an earnings preview on the stock after it traded down from its post-CoreWeave ( I'm a retired Wall Street PM specializing in TMT; since kickstarting my career, I've spent over two decades in the market navigating the technology landscape, focusing on risk mitigation through the dot com bubble, credit default of '08, and, more recently, with the AI boom. In one word, what I'd like ...

Core Insights - Digital technology is recognized as a transformative force driving innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly among youth globally [1][2][3] - The 2025 China-Africa Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum highlighted the significant role of digital technology in fostering sustainable entrepreneurial growth [1][3] Group 1: Impact of Digital Technology - Digital technology is essential for personal growth and building trust between businesses, facilitating cooperation across countries [2] - Entrepreneurs shared experiences of how digital technology has enabled them to overcome challenges and expand their projects internationally [1][2] - Digital platforms are being utilized to create solutions for educational support and communication in resource-limited areas [3] Group 2: Youth Engagement and Collaboration - The forum attracted over 90 young talents from various countries, emphasizing the importance of youth engagement in discussions about digital innovation [1] - Continuous networking and exchange of ideas among young entrepreneurs occurred even after formal events, indicating a strong collaborative spirit [2] - Initiatives like the "African Digital Leaders Program" aim to enhance digital literacy among African youth, preparing them for leadership roles in the digital age [2]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the rapid technological transformation in China, highlighting how it has leapfrogged directly from a rural economy to a digital economy without the burdens of outdated technologies [1][2] - It presents three key lessons learned from China's technological advancements, which challenge Western perspectives on innovation and resource utilization [1][2] Summary by Sections Lesson One - Chinese consumers have bypassed traditional technological stages, moving directly to digital solutions, which has become a significant competitive advantage for China [1] Lesson Two - The case of DeepSeek illustrates how China has developed impressive alternatives to high-end chips despite U.S. restrictions, showcasing the ability to turn limitations into opportunities for innovation [2] Lesson Three - A Chinese CEO's inquiry about the long-term vision of companies highlights a contrast in strategic thinking; while China plans for generations, many Western companies focus only on immediate challenges [2] Overall Takeaway - Innovation is not solely about having abundant resources but involves rethinking the use of existing resources, with past successes sometimes being the biggest obstacles to future progress [2]

Core Insights - The 2025 Global Digital Economy Conference (GDEC 2025) will take place from July 2, 2025, focusing on "Building a Digitally Friendly City" and featuring a "1+6+N" framework for various events aimed at fostering global digital economy development [1][2]. Group 1: Conference Overview - The conference will include opening ceremonies, a main forum, thematic forums, and special events, emphasizing the harmonious coexistence of technology and humanity, as well as cities and ecosystems [1]. - The UNDP will co-organize the event for the first time, launching the "UNDP Digital Friendliness and Sustainable Innovation Lab for the Digital Economy" [2]. - Over 300 international guests from more than 50 countries and major organizations like the WTO and BRICS are expected to attend, promoting cross-border cooperation [3]. Group 2: Technological Innovation - A signature program titled "First Launch, First Showcase" will highlight groundbreaking technologies and unveil the "Top Ten Benchmark Applications of Beijing's Digital Economy" [4]. - New technologies, including AI-generated content for the opening ceremony and AI-powered real-time translation, will be showcased [5]. Group 3: Industrial Integration - The conference will feature 46 specialized forums on emerging competitive tracks such as AI integration and digital healthcare, driving innovation and collaboration [6]. - A Digital Economy Innovation Competition will be launched, focusing on internationalization and the new "AIGC Creator Track" to promote AI applications in traditional arts [6]. Group 4: Digital Interaction Experiences - The "Digital Economy Experience Week" will introduce a 6,000-square-meter Digital Economy Experience Center utilizing AIGC and metaverse technologies for immersive experiences [8]. - A digital pop-up market, the "Digital Trend Market," will allow attendees to explore how the digital economy enhances everyday life [9].

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the transformation of Fuzhou's Binhai New City from a barren area to a modern, eco-friendly urban center, emphasizing its strategic importance in Fuzhou's development plan and its innovative ecological initiatives [2][4][6]. Group 1: Urban Development and Planning - Fuzhou Binhai New City was established as a national-level new area in 2015, serving as a key area for Fuzhou's "Eastward and Southward" development strategy [2]. - The city is characterized by a blend of ecological restoration and urban development, with a focus on becoming a "forest city" [4][6]. - The city has implemented a multi-layered protective forest structure, transitioning from single-species to a diverse, multi-functional green space [4][6]. Group 2: Environmental Initiatives - As of April 2025, Binhai New City has constructed a 23-kilometer protective forest, significantly reducing wind speed by 67.10% in monitored areas [6]. - The city has been recognized as a model for ecological development, being selected as one of the "Beautiful Bays" by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment in 2021 [6][8]. Group 3: Infrastructure and Transportation - The Binhai Express Line (F1) is set to enhance connectivity, reducing travel time from the main city to Binhai New City to 30 minutes [8]. - A comprehensive transportation network is being developed, including roads and metro lines, to facilitate access to key areas within the city [8][9]. Group 4: Public Services and Amenities - The city is expanding its public services, including education and healthcare, with several new schools and hospitals established [10]. - The construction of a new water supply facility is underway to address existing supply challenges, expected to be operational by 2027 [9][10]. Group 5: Economic Development and Industry - Binhai New City is positioning itself as a hub for digital industries, with significant investments in computing infrastructure and partnerships with tech companies [11][14]. - The establishment of the China Southeast Big Data Industrial Park has attracted numerous enterprises, contributing to a robust digital economy [11][14].

Core Viewpoint - Alset Inc. has announced a new stock repurchase program authorizing the buyback of up to $1,000,000 of its outstanding common stock, reflecting confidence in the company's long-term prospects and commitment to shareholder value [1][5]. Summary by Sections Stock Repurchase Program - The stock repurchase program is authorized to be executed until December 31, 2025, or until the full amount is utilized [2]. - The company has granted its broker complete discretion over repurchase decisions within agreed pricing and size parameters, with the option to suspend or discontinue the program at any time [3]. Company Overview - As of June 23, 2025, Alset Inc. had 11,735,119 shares of common stock issued and outstanding [4]. - Alset Inc. is a diversified holding company focused on developing smart and sustainable home communities, financial services, digital transformation technologies, biohealth activities, and consumer products [6]. Management Perspective - The Chairman and CEO of Alset Inc. stated that the current market price does not reflect the company's intrinsic value, emphasizing the diversified portfolio and strategic growth initiatives [5].

Core Viewpoint - The 2025 "Data Element ×" competition aims to select innovative data utilization solutions to drive technological industry development, with a focus on healthcare and digital health integration [1][2]. Group 1: Competition Overview - The competition is organized by the National Data Bureau and includes 13 industry tracks and 1 open innovation track, resulting in 94 specific topics [1]. - Winning projects will receive substantial prizes and support policies, with the top two projects from each track recommended for the national finals [1]. Group 2: Innovation Community and Ecosystem - The establishment of the Yangtze River Delta OPE Smart Industry Innovation Community focuses on integrating AI with healthcare, promoting a "single person + AI as a team" model [2][5]. - The "1+5+8+N" ecosystem aims to empower individual entrepreneurs through a collaborative framework involving government, enterprises, and capital support [5]. - The community will facilitate the growth of technology-driven enterprises and stimulate innovation in key industry sectors, leveraging the digital economy and smart manufacturing [5].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the rapid transformation of the global business landscape driven by technological advancements and the emergence of new consumer generations [2][3] - It highlights the dissolution of boundaries between digital technology and the real economy, with AI, cloud computing, and IoT becoming foundational elements for restructuring global supply chains and creating new business models [4][5] - The article notes that only players with "hardcore" competitive advantages can thrive in this intense competition, while emerging consumer markets, particularly Generation Z, are becoming significant drivers of consumption [6] Industry Trends - The global supply chain is shifting from a focus solely on efficiency to a balance of resilience and security, with control over core technologies and key processes becoming crucial for companies to gain global influence [5] - Chinese companies are entering a deeper phase of globalization, with projections indicating that by 2025, the scale of Chinese companies going global is expected to exceed $2.5 trillion, accounting for 12.7% of China's GDP [7] - The growth rate of emerging sectors such as AI, digital entertainment, and consumption upgrades is significantly outpacing traditional industries [7] Event and Initiative - 36Kr has launched the "East Forward 2025 Globalization Innovation List" to identify outstanding leaders and companies in the globalization wave, focusing on three dimensions: "Leading Figures," "Innovative Figures," and "Innovative Enterprises" [10] - The initiative aims to build a bridge for dialogue between domestic and international markets, helping Chinese innovation to reach a global stage [10] Participation and Evaluation - The evaluation criteria for the "Leading Figures" include global influence, industry contribution, market expansion, and cultural integration, with respective weightings of 30%, 30%, 25%, and 15% [12][14] - For "Innovative Figures," the focus is on innovation-driven entrepreneurs and executives, with criteria including innovative thinking, market insight, and cultural integration, weighted at 25%, 30%, 30%, and 15% [15][19] - The "Innovative Enterprises" category targets companies with innovation capabilities and market competitiveness in sectors like consumption, AI, and entertainment, with evaluation criteria including development potential, innovation ability, market performance, and global strategy [24][27]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of digital empowerment in the comprehensive governance of the Yangtze River Basin, highlighting the need for modern information technology to transform governance concepts and methods [1] Digital Technology Application Achievements - Significant progress has been made in the construction of digital twin projects such as the Digital Twin Three Gorges, Digital Twin Danjiangkou, and Digital Twin Han River, which have completed their initial construction tasks [2] - A comprehensive water monitoring system has been established, integrating aerial, terrestrial, and satellite data to support the digital twin of the Yangtze River [2] - Enhanced monitoring capabilities have been achieved through the deployment of hydrological stations and the use of drones and 3D laser scanning systems, improving data collection on hydrology, water quality, and ecology [2] Disaster Prevention and Control - The integration of multi-source data fusion algorithms has improved disaster prevention capabilities, creating a comprehensive forecasting and warning system for the entire river basin [2] Green Transformation and Industrial Upgrade - Digital technology is providing new pathways for green development in the Yangtze Economic Belt, with smart shipping systems utilizing 5G, Beidou navigation, and AI to enhance efficiency and reduce emissions [3] Challenges in Digital Technology Application - Data sharing obstacles exist due to diverse data sources and formats, leading to difficulties in forming unified data standards and hindering deep analysis [4] - The depth of digital technology application is insufficient, with many core technologies relying on foreign imports and lacking integration across various technologies [4] - There is a shortage of composite digital talent required for effective governance, as existing educational and training systems do not meet the practical needs of the industry [5] Recommendations for Improvement - Establish a cross-departmental data sharing system and create a national-level regulatory framework to facilitate data sharing among relevant departments [7] - Focus on core technology development and promote domestic technology products to enhance the application of digital technologies in governance [7] - Accelerate the construction of digital infrastructure, including expanding network coverage and optimizing data center locations to support real-time data processing [8] - Develop a comprehensive talent cultivation system to support the digital governance of the river basin, integrating education with industry needs [8]

Group 1: Digital Technology News Release Strategies - In 2025, digital technology companies face unprecedented opportunities and challenges in news dissemination, with a potential traffic increase of 300% through effective strategies [1] - The "Tech F4" media alliance, consisting of 36Kr, Huxiu, Ifanr, and Geek Park, has become a core battlefield for digital technology news dissemination [1] - Key media channels have specific submission requirements that enhance visibility and engagement, such as 36Kr's product testing submission process which increases acceptance rates by 60% [1] Group 2: E-commerce Content Ecosystem - E-commerce platforms like JD, Tmall, and Pinduoduo are reshaping the communication-to-purchase loop for technology products, with an average conversion rate of 15 times higher than traditional media [3] - JD's "Exploration of Objects" column requires products to be listed on JD's self-operated platform, leading to significant sales boosts for brands [3] - Tmall's integration with live streaming has proven effective, with one brand achieving 50 million GMV through a collaboration with a popular influencer [3] Group 3: Video Platform Strategies - Video platforms such as Bilibili, Douyin, and Kuaishou are becoming essential for technology product promotion, with Bilibili's "Hardcore Digital" section achieving over 100 million views for certain products [4] - Douyin allows for custom AR filter submissions, enhancing user engagement and product demonstration [4] - The "3-second golden rule" is crucial for video submissions, as compelling content in the first three seconds significantly increases viewer retention [4] Group 4: Developer Community Engagement - Developer communities like CSDN and GitHub serve as critical platforms for technology product reputation building, with CSDN's submission requirements increasing acceptance rates by 90% [5] - GitHub's trending page requires a minimum of 100 stars per week for submissions, emphasizing the importance of community engagement [5] - The "technical disdain chain" in developer communities highlights the need for effective communication strategies to enhance technical recognition [5] Group 5: Cross-Industry Scenario-Based Communication - Platforms like Autohome and ZEALER are creating new traffic channels for technology products through scenario-based communication strategies [7] - Autohome's requirements for product compatibility with mainstream models facilitate entry into automotive supply chains [7] - Innovative cross-industry strategies, such as placing technology products in non-traditional contexts, can significantly increase shareability [7] Group 6: Global Technology Communication - International media platforms like TechCrunch and The Verge provide essential channels for Chinese companies to reach global markets [8] - Submissions to these platforms must focus on solving cross-border issues to gain traction with international audiences [8] - Emphasizing unique Chinese advantages rather than universal values is critical to avoid high rejection rates [8] Group 7: Private Domain Traffic Strategies - Establishing a robust private domain ecosystem through company blogs and KOL newsletters can significantly enhance the long-term value of technology communications [9] - The average long-term value of news releases from companies with a well-developed private domain system is 20 times that of ordinary communications [9] - Effective private domain strategies include designing multiple engagement hooks in news releases to drive sustained interest [9]