Tech Insider: Xiaomi Joins AI Model Fray, Wafer Foundry to Get State Investment
New Geely, Baidu tie-up puts automaker in the driver’s seat, Alibaba’s DingTalk said to seek IPO of its own
On Aug. 15 at a Xiaomi store in Shanghai, consumers look at Xiaomi's newly launched foldable smartphone. Photo: VCG
Xiaomi jumps into the AI model fray
Xiaomi Corp. has been developing and testing its new artificial intelligence (AI) model on its mobile devices as the smartphone-maker seeks to get ahead in developing the technology used to power tools like ChatGPT.
The new lightweight AI model has been successfully tested on devices, founder and CEO Lei Jun said Monday. The model will be incorporated in the Xiao Ai voice assistant on Xiaomi’s handsets, in what will be its first application scenario.
“Xiaomi is a mobile phone company so it is mainly focused on lightweight and local deployment of large-scale models, which is different from other internet companies,” Lei said.
A lightweight AI model is designed to be smaller and more efficient, making it more suitable for use on devices like smartphones that have less memory and processing power than computers.
Wafer foundry to get $1.7 billion from state investors
State investors including China’s biggest government-backed chip investment fund agreed to pour 12.6 billion yuan ($1.7 billion) into a wafer production project in Shenzhen as the country strives to boost its domestic chipmaking capacity.
Shanghai-listed China Resources Microelectronics Ltd. said in an exchange filing Tuesday that its board has approved a plan for its Shenzhen subsidiary Runpeng Semiconductors to sell shares to several investors.
The deal, still pending approval by shareholders, will expand Runpeng’s registered capital from 2.4 billion yuan to 15 billion yuan, with a capital injection from the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund Co. Ltd., known as the “Big Fund,” and four other government-backed investment funds.
Alibaba’s DingTalk to seek IPO of its own, source says
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s workplace collaboration platform DingTalk will split from the company’s cloud division and pursue its own IPO, a source told Caixin, as the tech giant ramps up efforts to unlock growth following its major restructuring.
DingTalk’s separation is expected to be completed before the Alibaba cloud unit’s own IPO, the source close to the e-commerce firm said. Alibaba announced in May that it would spin off its Cloud Intelligence Group for an eventual listing.
After the spinoff, DingTalk will operate as a standalone unit within Alibaba, and its chief operating officer Ku Wei will leave and return to Alibaba’s cloud unit, Caixin understands.
New Geely, Baidu tie-up lands automaker in the driver’s seat
Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. Ltd. and Baidu Inc. have launched a new electric-vehicle (EV) brand, marking a restructuring in the partnership between the companies forged in 2021.
The first model under the new Ji Yue brand is the Ji Yue 01, an SUV scheduled for deliveries in the fourth quarter, Geely said Monday.
Geely will oversee the production of the cars while tech giant Baidu will provide its AI technologies including autonomous driving and smart cockpit systems, according to the statement.
The creation of the JV signals that Baidu is taking a back seat and Geely will now play a leading role in the carmaking partnership, an insider from Baidu told Caixin.
DJI unveils first cargo delivery drone
China’s SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd., the world’s biggest consumer drone-maker, debuted its first cargo-carrying device Wednesday in a foray into the burgeoning delivery drone market.
The new device, the FlyCart 30, has the capacity to carry as much as 30 kilograms (66.1 pounds) of goods in dual battery mode as far as 16 kilometers (9.9 miles), DJI said. With a starting price tag of 125,000 yuan ($17,140), the device can be used for cargo transportation in mountainous, coastal and island scenarios.
The launch of the FlyCart 30 marks DJI’s entry into the delivery drone market, an emerging business as global retail and tech giants seek new logistics solutions. In the U.S., Amazon Inc., Walmart Inc., and UPS Inc. have been testing delivery by drones for several years.
Two Chery Auto models to be first outfitted with revamped CATL battery
Two Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. models will be the first to be equipped with a revamped lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery developed by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) as it seeks to maintain its market dominance.
Two versions of each of Chery’s Sterra ES and Zhijie S7 sedans will be outfitted with CATL’s mixed battery pack, which consists of lithium manganese iron phosphate batteries and ternary lithium batteries, according to Ministry of Industry and Information Technology data released Monday.
A lithium manganese iron phosphate battery is an LFP battery that uses manganese as a cathode component to boost performance. CATL’s version of these batteries reportedly has an energy density that is 15% greater than LFP batteries.
CATL unveils battery that can take an EV 400 kilometers on 10-minute charge
CATL unveiled a new fast-charging battery Wednesday that could be a game-changer in helping cure range anxiety and encourage drivers to switch to EVs.
The world’s biggest maker of clean-car batteries showed off its new Shenxing cell, which can charge to a range of 400 kilometers in 10 minutes, the company said.
Mass production of the battery will start by year-end, and it will be commercially available from the first quarter of 2024. The LFP battery is capable of 700 kilometers of range on a full charge.
Tesla Inc.’s equivalent fast-charging capability can get up to 322 kilometers of range in 15 minutes, depending on the model.