Global Pulse

分类： technology

  • Would you pay for WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook? Meta to test premium subscriptions

    Would you pay for WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook? Meta to test premium subscriptions

    Meta Platforms is developing premium subscription tiers that would introduce enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities across its social media applications, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. According to a TechCrunch report verified by Meta representatives, these paid offerings would provide access to advanced AI tools while maintaining free access to core platform functionalities.

    The subscription model would incorporate Vibes, Meta’s AI-powered video generation application that enables users to create customized visual content through artificial intelligence. Additionally, Meta plans to integrate technology from Manus, an AI specialist company acquired for approximately $2 billion in December. The Singapore-based firm, which originally operated from China, specializes in developing “truly autonomous” agents capable of executing complex tasks with minimal user intervention, such as trip planning and presentation development.

    This strategic shift follows previous experimentation with monetization approaches. In 2023, Facebook tested restrictions on link-sharing capabilities for non-paying users. More recently, United Kingdom users encountered notifications offering ad-free experiences on Facebook and Instagram for £2.99 monthly, while European Union users received similar offers at €5.99 monthly. These developments represent Meta’s evolving approach to revenue diversification beyond advertising.

    The Manus acquisition has attracted regulatory attention, with Chinese authorities announcing reviews to determine potential violations of technology export or national security regulations. Despite these premium offerings, Meta has confirmed that essential platform services will remain accessible without subscription requirements.

  • UAE-based founder launches tech platform focused on access over ownership

    UAE-based founder launches tech platform focused on access over ownership

    A new technology platform emerging from the United Arab Emirates is challenging traditional consumption models by prioritizing access over ownership. Life4Rent, founded by UAE entrepreneur Dr. Hamza Mohammed, has launched a peer-to-peer rental service that enables community members to monetize underutilized possessions while providing neighbors with temporary access to everyday items.

    The platform capitalizes on evolving consumer behaviors and the UAE’s advanced digital infrastructure, which collectively create an ideal environment for access-based business models. With rising living costs and increasing urban density, residents are seeking more flexible alternatives to outright ownership of infrequently used items.

    Life4Rent distinguishes itself by focusing on practical, everyday assets rather than commercial-scale rentals. The platform facilitates local sharing of tools, equipment, and lifestyle items that typically remain idle for extended periods. This approach not only generates supplemental income for owners but also provides renters with cost-effective access to necessities without long-term commitments.

    Dr. Mohammed explained the platform’s rationale: “Globally, valuable assets sit idle while others face the burden of purchasing items for temporary use. Our technology creates a secure, trustworthy environment for this exchange, eliminating unnecessary expenditure and reducing waste.”

    The service holds particular significance for the UAE’s growing freelance and small business community, offering a structured system for resource sharing within local neighborhoods. The platform’s design emphasizes user-friendly interfaces, transparent listing processes, and integrated communication tools to build confidence among participants.

    Beyond economic benefits, Life4Rent aligns with sustainability objectives by promoting circular economy principles. Shared usage extends product lifecycles and reduces unnecessary consumption, addressing environmental concerns while meeting practical needs.

    Although conceived with global scalability, the platform incorporates regional insights from the UAE’s innovation ecosystem. Its development reflects the practical realities of modern urban living rather than abstract trends.

    Currently accessible via web application, Life4Rent plans to expand to mobile platforms with upcoming releases on Google Play and Apple App Store. The platform represents a growing shift toward access-led consumption models that redefine community resource sharing in increasingly digital societies.

  • New AI-powered classifieds platform Shoofi gains early traction in the UAE and GCC

    New AI-powered classifieds platform Shoofi gains early traction in the UAE and GCC

    A transformative artificial intelligence-powered classifieds platform named Shoofi is demonstrating remarkable early adoption metrics throughout the United Arab Emirates and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Departing from conventional marketplace models that implement AI capabilities selectively, Shoofi has engineered a comprehensively integrated AI architecture that permeates the entire transactional lifecycle.

    The GCC’s secondary goods marketplace continues its expansion trajectory, fueled by exceptional smartphone saturation and predominantly mobile-oriented consumer behaviors. Despite this growth, the regional market contends with persistent fragmentation challenges including linguistic diversity, inconsistent content standards, trust deficiencies, and limited monetization frameworks beyond conventional advertising. Shoofi’s foundational architecture specifically targets these structural market inefficiencies.

    Shoofi’s technological differentiation emerges through its deeply embedded AI infrastructure. The platform autonomously generates listings through image recognition and minimal user input, intelligently categorizes offerings, recommends optimal pricing strategies, and standardizes listing formats. Advanced AI algorithms simultaneously conduct content moderation, duplicate detection, and behavioral fraud prevention, creating a streamlined user experience while maintaining content integrity.

    Addressing the GCC’s multilingual composition, Shoofi incorporates real-time AI translation capabilities directly within listing presentations and communication channels. This linguistic integration enables seamless cross-cultural transactions without requiring sellers to create multiple advertisement versions or buyers to navigate language barriers. The platform’s ongoing development includes additional AI-enhanced communication tools specifically designed to facilitate successful transactions.

    Since its commercial introduction, Shoofi has attracted over 15,000 active users engaging in daily transactions across primary categories. The platform’s algorithm prioritizes successful deal completion rather than mere listing volume, aligning system incentives with user success metrics. A proprietary ranking model evaluates listing freshness, relevance, content quality, and seller trustworthiness to optimize user experience and transaction predictability.

    Trust constitutes a fundamental component of Shoofi’s operational philosophy, implemented through measurable seller ratings, verified transaction confirmations, and behavioral analytics that directly influence listing visibility. This trust infrastructure simultaneously reduces fraudulent activities while encouraging repeated platform engagement.

    The platform’s monetization strategy advances beyond traditional advertising through the impending introduction of Shoofi Pay—an integrated escrow payment solution that releases funds exclusively upon transaction confirmation. This development positions Shoofi as a transaction integrity guarantor while establishing commission-based revenue streams. Concurrently, the platform is developing specialized commercial tools for small-to-medium businesses and professional sellers, including digital storefronts, analytical capabilities, and structured pricing models.

    Designed as a pan-regional solution for GCC markets, Shoofi combines unified technological architecture with sophisticated localization and multicultural design elements. The platform’s competitive emphasis focuses on transactional quality and execution efficiency rather than listing price competition. This approach represents a paradigm shift from classifieds as static advertising inventory to dynamic transactional infrastructure, offering investors a scalable model with diversified revenue potential and regional expansion capabilities.

  • China to foster new quality productive forces in water conservancy sector

    China to foster new quality productive forces in water conservancy sector

    China is embarking on an ambitious technological transformation of its water conservancy infrastructure, positioning advanced innovation as the cornerstone of modern reservoir management. The Ministry of Water Resources announced Thursday a comprehensive initiative to develop new quality productive forces throughout the nation’s water management sector.

    The strategic plan centers on creating an all-weather intelligent monitoring system that integrates surveillance capabilities across multiple domains: sky, space, land, water, and engineering infrastructure. This sophisticated network will employ an array of cutting-edge technologies including satellite remote sensing, ground-penetrating radar, unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous marine vessels, and subaquatic robotics.

    Zhang Wenjie, a ministry official, emphasized that these technological advancements will significantly enhance hidden danger detection capabilities while advancing intelligent patrol operations. The integration of these systems represents a fundamental shift toward data-driven water management and disaster prevention.

    The initiative builds on successful technological implementations demonstrated during recent flood seasons. During the 2025 autumn floods along the Hanjiang River, authorities effectively monitored the Danjiangkou Reservoir’s structural integrity in real-time using Global Navigation Satellite Systems and automated surveying robots. This technological support enabled precise, science-based reservoir regulation during critical high-water conditions.

    According to Wang Bao’en, Deputy Head of the Ministry, current efforts are accelerating the development of next-generation infrastructure characterized by enhanced safety, ecological sustainability, and intelligent operation. The ministry will intensify research, development, and deployment of innovative technologies while selecting representative dams with strong foundational conditions for pilot projects.

    This technological push aims to elevate reservoir management standards to unprecedented levels, establishing new benchmarks for modern water conservancy operations worldwide. The initiative represents China’s commitment to leveraging technological innovation for critical infrastructure management and environmental sustainability.

  • Visit the North Sea oil field used to store greenhouse gas

    Visit the North Sea oil field used to store greenhouse gas

    A revolutionary transformation is underway in the North Sea, where aging oil infrastructure is being repurposed for climate solutions. The Greensand Future project, spearheaded by British multinational Ineos Energy, is converting the nearly-depleted Nini oil field into Europe’s first large-scale offshore carbon storage facility.

    Located 250 kilometers off Denmark’s western coast, the Siri platform serves as the operational hub for this ambitious initiative. Instead of extracting fossil fuels, engineers will now inject thousands of tonnes of captured CO2 into the same geological formations that once held oil and gas. “Instead of pulling oil and gas up from the ground, we’re going to inject CO2 into the ground instead,” explains Ineos Energy CEO Mads Gade.

    The project represents a significant scaling of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology, with plans to store approximately 400,000 tonnes of CO2 this year alone. By 2030, the consortium aims to increase capacity to eight million tonnes annually – equivalent to nearly 40% of Denmark’s emission reduction targets.

    This initiative arrives as international climate bodies including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and International Energy Agency (IEA) have recognized carbon capture as an essential tool for achieving climate goals. The European Union has similarly endorsed CCS as necessary for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

    The North Sea’s geological characteristics make it ideally suited for carbon storage. According to Niels Schovsbo, senior researcher at the Geological Survey of Greenland and Denmark, the region’s porous rock formations and thick clay layers provide natural containment, similar to how they trapped oil and gas for millions of years.

    However, the technology faces criticism from environmental groups. Helene Hagel, head of climate policy at Greenpeace Denmark, cautions that CCS might discourage essential emission reductions and could create problems for future generations by occupying seabed storage capacity.

    Despite concerns, CCS projects are advancing rapidly across Northern Europe. Norway’s Northern Lights project began operations last August as the world’s first commercial carbon storage service, while the UK is developing multiple capture clusters including Scotland’s Acorn Project.

    The transition also offers new opportunities for offshore workers. Maintenance manager Peter Bjerre notes that skills previously used for maintaining turbines and gas compressors will now be applied to high-pressure pumps for CO2 injection, representing a significant workforce transformation in the green transition.

  • AI governance tops China’s 2025 technology buzzwords list

    AI governance tops China’s 2025 technology buzzwords list

    In a significant development reflecting China’s evolving technological priorities, ‘AI governance’ has emerged as the foremost buzzword in the nation’s 2025 technology lexicon. The Chinese Society for Science and Technology Journalism unveiled this ranking, highlighting a global transition in artificial intelligence from pure technological competition toward establishing comprehensive regulatory frameworks.

    Yin Chuanhong, President of the Science Popularization Times, emphasized during the announcement ceremony that ‘ensuring safe, reliable, and controllable AI development has become the most pressing issue for the global community.’ He noted China’s growing recognition that technological advancement must be complemented by sophisticated governance mechanisms to guarantee sustainable progress.

    The selection process, which integrated big data analytics with expert assessment, also identified nine other pivotal technological terms: embodied intelligence, controlled nuclear fusion, brain-computer interface, commercial space, deep-sea technology, deep-space exploration, silver economy technology, intelligent agents, and Chinese innovation. These concepts reflect China’s strategic focus areas and remarkable breakthroughs during the year.

    China’s leadership in global AI governance gained international recognition, with the prestigious journal Nature acknowledging the country’s pioneering role. This was further demonstrated at the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, where China proposed establishing a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization and released the Global AI Governance Action Plan.

    Substantial progress was reported across multiple frontier technologies. Controlled nuclear fusion witnessed a milestone achievement with the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor organization completing its massive superconducting electromagnet system. China’s brain-computer interface industry achieved breakthroughs in core technologies and multi-scenario applications, earning designation as one of six priority future industries in the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan.

    The commercial space sector demonstrated remarkable growth, with the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site and Oriental Spaceport achieving regular launch capabilities. Private rocket companies successfully deployed numerous carrier rockets, while satellite manufacturing facilities established capacity for mass production of hundreds of satellites annually, paving the way for a trillion-yuan market.

    Concurrently, the society released the ‘Top 10 Science and Technology News Events of 2025,’ featuring landmark achievements including DeepSeek’s open-source large models, the Zuchongzhi-3 quantum computing prototype, the world’s first humanoid robot half-marathon, and the commissioning of China’s first electromagnetic catapult aircraft carrier, the CNS Fujian.

  • 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.