分类: technology

  • China-Swiss exhibition on green construction opens

    China-Swiss exhibition on green construction opens

    Beijing witnessed the inauguration of the groundbreaking “Building Type / Climate Zone” exhibition on Thursday, showcasing the remarkable outcomes of the China-Swiss Zero Emission Buildings Project. Held at Langyuan Station, this collaborative initiative represents a significant milestone in sustainable construction technology developed between 2021 and 2025 through the partnership of Switzerland’s Agency for Development and Cooperation and China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.

    The exhibition comprehensively documents the bilateral effort to combat global climate change through architectural innovation, featuring three distinct thematic sections. Visitors can explore hundreds of research reports curated by Swiss experts and presented through visually engaging infographics, admire professional architectural photography capturing eight zero-emission demonstration buildings, and examine a unique reproduction of China’s ancient architectural treatise “Yingzao Fashi” (Building Standards) printed on solar panels using advanced silk screen technology.

    Swiss Ambassador to China Krystyna Marty Lang emphasized the project’s significance during the opening ceremony, noting that “this collaboration represents the successful fusion of Swiss expertise in sustainable construction with Chinese innovative technologies and futuristic design capabilities.” The initiative has brought together over 100 experts from more than 30 enterprises and academic institutions across both nations, focusing on three primary areas: standardized research, practical demonstration projects, and comprehensive capacity-building programs.

    While acknowledging the project’s completion, Ambassador Lang characterized it as merely the beginning of a broader movement toward zero-emission construction, stating that “the success paves the way for new pilots, deeper standardization work, and investments that bring us closer to a zero-emission future.” The exhibition will remain accessible to the public free of charge from January 29th through February 13th.

  • Online platforms offer filtering to fight AI slop

    Online platforms offer filtering to fight AI slop

    A digital arms race is underway as major technology platforms implement sophisticated filtering systems to counter the escalating tide of low-quality artificial intelligence content flooding online ecosystems. This proliferation of synthetic media—dubbed ‘AI slop’ by industry experts—encompasses everything from felines creating artwork to compromised celebrity depictions and animated characters promoting products.

    The emergence of advanced generative AI tools from industry leaders like Google’s Veo and OpenAI’s Sora has democratized the creation of hyper-realistic imagery through simple text prompts. This technological accessibility has resulted in an explosion of synthetic content that YouTube CEO Neal Mohan characterizes as raising ‘concerns about low-quality content’ that’s increasingly inundating social networks.

    Swiss engineer Yves, who preferred anonymity, described the phenomenon to AFP as ‘cheap, bland and mass-produced’—sentiments echoing across social discussion platforms like Reddit. In response, platforms including Pinterest and TikTok have deployed user-activated filters that enable content consumers to selectively exclude AI-generated material from their feeds.

    While Meta’s Instagram and Facebook offer more limited content reduction tools without explicit filtering options, YouTube has implemented a multi-faceted approach that includes enhanced labeling protocols. These developments represent an evolution from earlier industry efforts that primarily focused on video authentication to prevent misinformation.

    Meanwhile, philosophical divisions are emerging within the tech industry regarding AI content’s fundamental value. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella advocates moving beyond the ‘slop versus sophistication’ debate to embrace AI’s potential for amplifying human creativity and productivity. Conversely, content creator Bob Doyle suggests that ‘the criticism of AI slop is the criticism of some individual’s creative expression’ that may represent embryonic artistic concepts.

    Smaller platforms are implementing more radical solutions. Music streaming service Coda Music, with approximately 2,500 users, enables complete blocking of AI content from suggested playlists and identifies accounts as ‘AI artists’ following community reporting and verification. Similarly, Cara—a social network for artists boasting over a million users—employs hybrid algorithmic and human moderation systems to maintain what founder Jingna Zhang describes as essential ‘human connection’ in creative expression.

  • Facebook-owner Meta to nearly double AI spending

    Facebook-owner Meta to nearly double AI spending

    Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled an unprecedented commitment to artificial intelligence infrastructure, announcing plans to nearly double the company’s AI spending to $135 billion in 2026. The declaration came during Wednesday’s earnings call discussing Meta’s 2025 financial performance, marking one of the largest corporate investments in AI technology to date.

    The substantial expenditure represents a dramatic increase from the $72 billion allocated to AI projects in 2025 and follows three years of cumulative $140 billion investments positioning Meta at the forefront of the AI revolution. Zuckerberg characterized 2026 as the pivotal year when “AI dramatically changes the way we work,” despite acknowledging compressed profit margins as expenses outpace revenues.

    Market response appeared positive initially, with Meta shares climbing approximately 6.5% in extended trading following the announcement. However, the ambitious spending plan arrives alongside subtle indications of potential workforce reductions. Zuckerberg noted that AI tools now enable “projects that used to take big teams [to] be accomplished by a single, very talented person,” suggesting significant organizational restructuring ahead.

    The technology giant has already implemented several hundred layoffs in its Reality Labs division this year, reflecting strategic reallocation toward AI initiatives. Zuckerberg emphasized investments in AI tools that enhance employee productivity, particularly for software engineers, while acknowledging a growing performance gap between those effectively leveraging AI capabilities and those struggling to adapt.

    This massive financial commitment emerges against a backdrop of industry skepticism regarding AI valuation. Cisco Systems CEO Chuck Robbins characterized the current market as probable bubble conditions, warning that some companies “won’t make it.” Similar concerns have been echoed by JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who noted “irrationality” in the AI boom. Even OpenAI’s Sam Altman acknowledged investor “overexcitement” about AI technology.

    Meta’s aggressive investment strategy signals both confidence in AI’s transformative potential and willingness to weather potential market corrections in pursuit of technological leadership.

  • Shanghai to host embodied intelligence expo in July

    Shanghai to host embodied intelligence expo in July

    Shanghai is poised to become the epicenter of the global embodied intelligence revolution as it prepares to host the prestigious Shanghai International Embodied Intelligence Expo from July 2-4, 2026. The groundbreaking event will unfold at the city’s expansive National Exhibition and Convention Center, marking a significant milestone in technological innovation and commercial application of AI-integrated systems.

    Under the visionary theme “Embodied Intelligence, Empowered Future,” the expo will serve as a comprehensive international platform showcasing cutting-edge advancements across the entire embodied intelligence spectrum. The exhibition will feature nine specialized zones covering hardware components, perceptual systems, cognitive decision-making architectures, execution mechanisms, energy storage solutions, intelligent automotive connectivity, platform ecosystems, commercial applications, and advanced manufacturing equipment.

    Spanning an impressive 30,000 square meters of exhibition space, the event is projected to attract more than 500 leading domestic and international exhibitors, presenting a complete overview of the rapidly evolving embodied intelligence industrial chain. The global market for embodied intelligence technology, valued at approximately ¥19.53 billion ($2.81 billion) in 2025, continues to experience accelerated growth and expanding practical applications across multiple sectors.

    Beyond the extensive exhibition, CIEI 2026 will host concurrent events including the Embodied Intelligence Industry Ecosystem Conference, the release of China’s comprehensive industry development report, technical standardization seminars, supply chain matchmaking sessions, and specialized forums on critical component technologies. These complementary activities are designed to foster international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and commercial partnerships within this emerging technological frontier.

  • Dubai travellers to soon skip airport queues, check in at locations across city

    Dubai travellers to soon skip airport queues, check in at locations across city

    In a landmark move to cement its status as a global future-ready metropolis, Dubai has unveiled three groundbreaking initiatives under its ambitious 10X program. Approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, these projects represent the third phase of the initiative that seeks to position Dubai a decade ahead of other world cities through innovative governance models.

    The three selected ventures—the City Terminal Project, the 20 Minute City, and the Disease Early Detection System—are set to transform urban mobility, healthcare, and travel experiences through cross-governmental collaboration and technological innovation.

    The City Terminal Project, developed through partnership between Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects and multiple entities including Dubai Police, Emirates, and e& Group, will decentralize airport procedures. Travelers will be able to complete check-in operations at various city locations before being transported directly to airport departure gates via secured transportation, effectively eliminating conventional airport queues and reducing terminal congestion.

    Simultaneously, the 20 Minute City initiative led by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority aims to create hyper-accessible urban environments where residents can reach 80% of essential services within 20 minutes through walking, cycling, or sustainable transit. The pilot project in Al Barsha 2 will feature enhanced road safety measures, expanded shaded green areas, and flexible mobility corridors.

    In healthcare, the Disease Early Detection System spearheaded by the Dubai Health Authority introduces predictive healthcare capabilities focusing initially on diabetes management. This proactive approach aims to improve treatment outcomes while reducing the condition’s estimated annual cost of Dh2.78 billion to Dubai’s economy. Multiple medical institutions including Canadian Specialist Hospital and King’s College Hospital London will participate in the pilot phase.

    These projects emerged from a competitive selection process that evaluated 79 proposals developed by over 120 employees across 33 government entities. Selection criteria emphasized implementation feasibility, cross-government integration, and potential quality-of-life improvements for residents.

    Sheikh Hamdan emphasized that the 10X Initiative has fundamentally transformed Dubai’s governmental operations, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration that transcends traditional bureaucratic boundaries. ‘Accelerating government performance is central to our future vision,’ he stated, noting Dubai’s commitment to ‘pioneer bold, high-impact projects that redefine excellence in public service.’

    Since its 2017 launch by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Dubai 10X Initiative has consistently driven innovation in governance, reinforcing Dubai’s leadership in future-ready urban development and technological adoption.

  • China’s 5G base stations top 4.83 million by end of 2025

    China’s 5G base stations top 4.83 million by end of 2025

    China’s telecommunications sector demonstrated remarkable growth throughout 2025, exceeding all infrastructure development targets established in its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). Official data released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reveals the country achieved unprecedented milestones in next-generation network deployment and technological innovation.

    By December 2025, China had established 4.838 million operational 5G base stations nationwide, translating to an impressive density of 34.4 stations per 10,000 people. This infrastructure deployment surpassed national planning objectives by 8.4 units per capita, representing one of the most rapid large-scale 5G implementations globally.

    The telecommunications industry reported sustained financial growth with total business volume increasing 9.1% year-on-year. Revenue reached 1.75 trillion yuan (approximately $250.8 billion), marking a 0.7% increase despite global economic headwinds. Emerging technologies including cloud computing, big data, IoT applications, and data center services contributed significantly, accounting for 25.7% of total sector revenue.

    China’s technological leadership became particularly evident in patent development, with Chinese entities claiming 42% of all global 5G standard-essential patent declarations. Concurrently, researchers achieved substantial breakthroughs in next-generation connectivity, successfully verifying core 6G system architecture and related technologies.

    Infrastructure accomplishments extended to comprehensive network coverage with gigabit optical network access available in every Chinese county. The nation achieved complete 5G coverage across all townships and over 95% of administrative villages. Advanced 5G-A (5G-Advanced) services expanded to more than 330 cities, while the national optical fiber network reached 74.99 million kilometers in total length.

    User adoption metrics showed robust growth with mobile subscriptions reaching 1.827 billion, including 1.204 billion 5G subscribers. Mobile IoT terminals experienced particularly strong expansion, growing 8.7% to 2.888 billion users, with substantial increases in vehicular internet and public service applications.

    The integration of digital technologies with traditional industries reached new heights, with 5G and gigabit networks now implemented across 91 major economic categories. The industrial internet ecosystem achieved comprehensive coverage of all 41 industrial classifications, demonstrating deep digital transformation throughout China’s economic landscape.

  • Pay with your face: UAE introduces region’s first biometric payment method

    Pay with your face: UAE introduces region’s first biometric payment method

    The United Arab Emirates has launched the Middle East’s inaugural biometric payment system, marking a significant advancement in financial technology infrastructure. The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) is currently conducting a proof-of-concept pilot at the Dubai Land Department, enabling consumers to complete transactions through facial recognition or palm scanning technology.

    This groundbreaking initiative operates within the CBUAE’s Sandbox Programme and Innovation Hub at the Emirates Institute of Finance, developed in partnership with Network International and powered by PopID’s biometric authentication technology. The system eliminates traditional payment instruments, allowing users to authenticate purchases without physical cards or mobile devices.

    Central Bank officials emphasize that the pilot program remains in a controlled testing environment where security protocols, operational efficiency, and system readiness undergo rigorous evaluation. No definitive timeline has been established for commercial deployment beyond the experimental phase.

    Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor for Banking Operations and Support Services at CBUAE, highlighted the dual benefits of enhanced transaction security and improved customer experience. Meanwhile, Network International CEO Murat Cagri Suzer projected that biometric authentication will assume an increasingly prominent role in digital commerce as financial institutions seek alternatives to conventional payment methodologies.

    The development aligns with broader regional trends toward digital payment adoption, with recent reports indicating declining cash usage across UAE markets. This innovation represents the latest advancement in the country’s ongoing digital transformation initiatives within the financial sector.

  • Collaboration helps tap into blue wonders

    Collaboration helps tap into blue wonders

    In a groundbreaking fusion of technology and ecology, Hong Kong-based startup Archireef is revolutionizing coral restoration through innovative 3D-printed solutions. The company’s biodegradable terracotta reef tiles, designed to mimic natural brain coral structures, are demonstrating remarkable success in rebuilding degraded marine ecosystems across two continents.

    Founded in 2020 by Vriko Yu and University of Hong Kong professor David Baker, Archireef emerged from frustration with conventional restoration methods using plastic, metal, and concrete. Their patented terracotta tiles provide an optimal substrate for coral attachment, boasting a 95% survival rate for transplanted corals in Hong Kong waters where traditional approaches had failed.

    The technology’s breakthrough comes at a critical juncture. Hong Kong’s northeastern waters have witnessed an 80% decline in coral coverage since the 1980s due to urban development and pollution, despite hosting 84 hard coral species—more than the entire Caribbean Sea.

    Archireef’s expansion into the Middle East marks a significant milestone in global marine conservation. In 2022, the company partnered with Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company to address severe coral bleaching that devastated 73% of the emirate’s reefs in 2017. The results have been extraordinary: within six months of deployment, fish abundance increased sixfold, and biodiversity levels improved fivefold within a year.

    The collaboration represents a powerful synergy between Hong Kong’s research capabilities and Abu Dhabi’s scaling ambitions. Through Abu Dhabi’s Hub71 accelerator, Archireef established a regional eco-engineering facility at KEZAD Group, producing customized tiles for local conditions while providing comprehensive marine restoration services from consulting to monitoring.

    This transnational partnership exemplifies how scientific innovation, entrepreneurial vision, and supportive policy can converge to address environmental challenges. As climate technology becomes increasingly vital, the Hong Kong-Abu Dhabi model demonstrates how specialized expertise from Asian financial hubs can combine with Middle Eastern investment power to create tangible ecological impact.

    With the recent launch of the Abu Dhabi Coral Garden initiative aiming to deploy 40,000 artificial reef modules, Archireef’s technology is positioned to play a crucial role in engineering more resilient coastlines worldwide. The success proves that where coral takes root, international collaboration grows alongside it.

  • Chengdu firm sets up large computing model in space

    Chengdu firm sets up large computing model in space

    In a groundbreaking advancement for space technology and artificial intelligence, Chengdu-based GuoXing Aerospace Technology has successfully deployed a general-purpose AI model aboard orbiting satellites, creating the world’s first operational space-based computing center. The company announced this technological milestone at a recent seminar, revealing they have uplinked Alibaba’s sophisticated Qwen3 large language model to their inaugural satellite cluster launched in May 2025.

    The achievement represents a significant leap in space computing capabilities, with the system successfully completing multiple end-to-end reasoning tasks entirely in orbit. During trials, questions transmitted from Earth to the satellite were processed on board and results returned to ground stations—all within an impressive two-minute timeframe.

    This development emerges as global demand for computing power reaches unprecedented levels, driven largely by artificial intelligence applications. The space-based computing race has intensified with recent developments, including SpaceX’s November launch of the Starcloud-1 satellite equipped with Nvidia GPUs.

    Wang Yabo, Executive Vice-President of the Sichuan-based startup, outlined ambitious plans to expand this initial success into a comprehensive network of 2,800 specialized computing satellites by 2035. The proposed constellation will include 2,400 inference satellites and 400 training satellites deployed across multiple orbital configurations at altitudes ranging from 500 to 1,000 kilometers.

    The system is designed to utilize advanced laser inter-satellite links for high-speed data transfer, with projected capabilities of delivering 100,000 petaflops of inference compute and 1 million petaflops of training compute worldwide. The company plans to deploy additional satellite clusters this year, targeting completion of a 1,000-satellite network by 2030.

  • Axis Communications positions AI‑driven security as digital infrastructure for 2026

    Axis Communications positions AI‑driven security as digital infrastructure for 2026

    Axis Communications is embarking on a transformative journey in 2026, fundamentally reimagining its position within the global security sector. The company is accelerating its transition from traditional hardware manufacturing toward delivering fully integrated, intelligence-driven security ecosystems that function as critical digital infrastructure.

    This strategic evolution builds upon an extensive portfolio encompassing network video, audio surveillance, advanced analytics, and access control technologies—all engineered to operate in seamless unison. The core objective is to empower organizations to shift from reactive monitoring frameworks to proactive security operations, resulting in significantly improved response times, substantially enhanced detection accuracy, and systems that actively contribute to operational resilience.

    Loubna Imenchal, Managing Director for Middle East, Türkiye, Central Asia and Africa at Axis Communications, emphasizes that global surveillance technology demand is experiencing sustained structural growth. This trend is fueled by long-term investments in smart city initiatives, national infrastructure modernization, and comprehensive digital transformation programs. While the video surveillance market continues to expand at nearly 6% annually through 2030, growth is increasingly driven by data value extraction rather than camera hardware alone.

    Contemporary businesses are reevaluating security technology’s potential amid pressures to optimize resources. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and edge analytics are transforming conventional cameras into intelligent sensors and video footage into strategic business assets. This technological convergence is repositioning security from a cost center to a measurable value generator.

    The Middle East, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, represents one of the world’s most dynamic growth regions due to massive mega-projects and digital infrastructure development. Africa simultaneously emerges as a promising long-term opportunity driven by rapid urbanization and public-sector digitization initiatives.

    Artificial intelligence serves as the foundational force behind this transformation, fundamentally reshaping physical security through advanced detection, classification, and contextual interpretation capabilities. Axis emphasizes its architectural approach to intelligence integration rather than superficial AI implementation, ensuring reliability and real-world performance.

    The future trajectory points toward predictive security systems powered by the convergence of AI, edge computing, and cloud-based architectures. Organizations that embrace security as integrated digital infrastructure rather than discrete hardware components will gain significant competitive advantages.

    Axis Communications plans to strengthen its regional leadership, expand intelligent solution adoption, and deepen strategic partnerships throughout 2026, aiming to actively shape—rather than follow—the future of intelligent security systems.