Meituan Hit by Price War as Losses Deepen
Meituan reported its second straight quarterly loss, posting a 15 billion yuan quarterly loss, reversing a 9.8 billion yuan profit a year earlier, while full-year results also swung sharply into the red. The downturn was driven by an aggressive price war with Alibaba Group Holding and JD.com, as all three spent heavily on discounts and incentives to win users and merchants. Meituan’s core local commerce segment alone lost 10 billion yuan.
China Advances Chip Independence with RISC-V Breakthrough
China has taken a major step toward semiconductor self-sufficiency with new high-performance chips built on the open-source RISC-V architecture. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences unveiled the Xiangshan processor, achieving globally competitive benchmark performance. Meanwhile, Alibaba Group Holding introduced its XuanTie C950 chip via its research arm, targeting AI and cloud computing workloads.
Alibaba Bets on AI “Digital Workforce” for E-Commerce Future
Alibaba Group Holding is rolling out AI-powered “digital employees” for merchants on Taobao and Tmall, aiming to automate online store operations. Launching by end-March, the system builds on its Business Advisor tool to provide 24/7 AI agents handling customer service, pricing, and promotions in real time. Alibaba expects this hybrid workforce model to become standard within two years, helping merchants scale faster while boosting platform growth.
Steve Wozniak Voices Doubts Over AI’s Real Capabilities
Steve Wozniak says he’s frequently disappointed by AI and rarely uses it, criticizing responses as overly polished yet missing the point. He argued current systems lack human qualities like emotion, intent, and genuine understanding, and sees no evidence AI can truly replace people anytime soon. His cautious stance contrasts sharply with industry leaders like Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella, while Wozniak admits future breakthroughs are possible, he believes today’s AI still falls short of meaningful human-level intelligence.
OpenAI Exits AI Video Race, Shuts Down Sora
OpenAI is discontinuing its Sora video-generation platform and ending a planned $1 billion partnership with The Walt Disney Company before any funds were exchanged. The shutdown affects Sora’s public app, APIs, and professional tools, marking a major pivot away from AI video. OpenAI now plans to focus on robotics and autonomous systems, applying video-model training techniques to real-world environments. For users, timelines for shutdown and data export are still pending, leaving creators awaiting guidance on preserving their work.
Family Rejects $26M Data Center Deal to Protect Farmland
A Kentucky farming family has turned down a $26 million offer to sell part of their land for a data center, choosing to preserve generations of agricultural heritage instead. Owner Delsia Bare said the farm’s role in feeding the nation outweighs any financial gain, while her mother warned of long-term risks to food supply, water, and land.
Teen Innovation Targets Microplastic Crisis
A Virginia high school student has developed a low-cost water filtration system that removes over 95% of microplastics using ferrofluid, a magnetic liquid that binds to plastic particles and extracts them without traditional membranes. Inspired by issues in her own home, she designed a reusable, low-maintenance prototype that rivals conventional filtration systems. While promising, challenges remain around scaling production and safely disposing of captured particles.
