Alibaba Launches AI Glasses and New Chatbot as Consumer AI Push Accelerates
Alibaba has begun pre-sales for its Quark AI Glasses, priced from 4,699 yuan before discounts and powered by its Qwen large language model. The wearable supports hands-free calls, music, and real-time translation, positioning Alibaba against Meta and Xiaomi in the AI wearables race. The company also rolled out a new “AI Chat Assistant” mode inside its Quark app, combining search and chatbot features in one interface.
Beijing Startup Launches $1,400 “Family-Friendly” Humanoid Robot
Chinese startup Noetix Robotics has launched presales for Bumi, a child-sized humanoid robot priced at 9,988 yuan (about $1,400), signaling a push to bring consumer-grade robotics into homes. Standing 94 cm tall and weighing 12 kg, Bumi is designed for family and educational use, with two-legged walking and dance capabilities. The release reflects China’s broader race to make humanoids affordable, following Unitree’s R1 robot priced at 39,999 yuan.
HKUST Startup Plans Satellite Constellation for Global 3D Wind Data
Hong Kong-based Stellerus Technology, founded by HKUST academics, aims to become the first company to provide satellite-enabled three-dimensional wind data for industries such as wind power, transport, and insurance. Co-founder Su Hui, a former NASA Jet Propulsion Lab scientist, said China’s lower satellite manufacturing costs make the project commercially feasible — about 20 million yuan per satellite versus roughly $100 million in the U.S. The company says high-resolution 3D wind data could significantly improve forecasting of extreme weather events.
Trump Pardons Binance Founder CZ, Boosting Pro-Crypto Agenda
President Trump has issued a full and unconditional pardon to Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, who had pleaded guilty in 2023 to anti-money laundering failures and served nearly four months in prison. The White House framed the case as part of the Biden administration’s “war on cryptocurrency.” The pardon clears the way for CZ to potentially return to Binance leadership as the industry expands under Trump.
Netherlands Seizes Control of Chinese-Owned Chipmaker Nexperia Over Security Fears
The Dutch government has taken control of Nexperia, a Chinese-owned chipmaker based in the Netherlands, citing “serious governance shortcomings” and urgent risks to Europe’s semiconductor supply. Officials said the move was necessary to secure chip availability in a crisis and protect critical technological know-how. Nexperia’s parent company Wingtech, already on the U.S. entity list, condemned the takeover and said it will seek legal remedies.
OpenAI’s Massive Chip Spending Sparks Warnings Over Unsustainable AI Economics
OpenAI is reportedly committing hundreds of billions — possibly over $1 trillion — to GPU purchases from Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom, requiring power equivalent to 20 nuclear reactors. Yet the company currently generates only about $13 billion in annual revenue. Analysts say the math doesn’t come close to adding up, with one calling the risk big enough to “crash the global economy for a decade.” The spending spree reflects a wider bet that AI will eventually eliminate large swaths of human labor, driving profits through automation. But critics argue this gamble raises deeper questions about who benefits .
UNC Mock Trial Uses ChatGPT, Grok, and Claude as “Jurors,” Highlighting Risks of AI in Justice
The University of North Carolina School of Law staged a mock trial where AI chatbots — ChatGPT, Grok, and Claude — served as jurors in a fictional robbery case, raising questions about AI’s role in legal decision-making. The experiment emphasized concerns over bias, hallucinated case law, and lack of human context like body language or lived experience. Audience reactions were overwhelmingly negative, reinforcing skepticism about “trial-by-bot” even as legal professionals increasingly adopt AI tools. Critics warn that as the technology improves, courts may face growing pressure to integrate automation into proceedings — potentially threatening fairness and legitimacy in the justice system.
