Gree Electric Achieves Self-Sufficiency with In-House Chip Development
Gree Electric has successfully developed its own chips, marking a major milestone in its six-year journey toward self-reliance. Chairwoman Dong Mingzhu announced the breakthrough, highlighting that Gree achieved chip research, design, and manufacturing capabilities without government funding. Initially designing chips for air conditioners in 2018, Gree now aims to expand into smart home products. The company is also building a Silicon Carbide (SiC) chip factory, set to begin production this year.
Temu Tops U.S. iOS Downloads but Faces Growing Regulatory Hurdles
Temu, owned by China’s PDD Holdings, ranked as the most downloaded app on Apple’s U.S. iOS store for the second year, outpacing competitors like Amazon and Shein with its low-cost goods. However, U.S. regulators are tightening the “de minimis” rule that exempts small imports from duties, threatening Temu’s pricing edge. Potentially steep tariffs under Trump’s proposed policies add further uncertainty. Globally, Temu faces bans in Vietnam and anti-dumping measures in Southeast Asia.
Apple Eyes Tencent and ByteDance AI Models to Boost iPhones in China
Apple is in early talks with Tencent and ByteDance to integrate their AI models into iPhones sold in China, sources reveal. With ChatGPT unavailable due to China’s regulations, Apple seeks local partnerships to enhance AI features like Siri’s capabilities. However, discussions with Baidu’s Ernie model reportedly stalled over technical and data usage issues. As Apple faces declining market share in China amid fierce competition from Huawei’s AI-powered Mate 70 series, finding a local AI partner could be crucial. Huawei’s resurgence in the high-end market has surged its sales by 42%, while Apple’s sales dipped 0.3% year-over-year.
Albania Bans TikTok for a Year to Curb Youth Violence
Albania will enforce a one-year nationwide TikTok ban starting early next year, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced. The decision follows the tragic killing of a 14-year-old boy, reportedly linked to social media disputes. Rama, citing TikTok’s role in promoting youth violence, labeled the app a societal threat. The ban, part of broader efforts to improve school safety, mirrors similar restrictions across Europe and Australia targeting social media’s impact on minors. Rama emphasized the need for societal accountability, asserting that platforms like TikTok are “taking our children hostage.”
Databricks Hits $62B Valuation in Historic $10B Funding Round
Databricks has reached a staggering $62 billion valuation after raising $10 billion in one of the largest venture capital rounds ever. Led by Thrive Capital, the round saw participation from major investors like Andreessen Horowitz, GIC, and ICONIQ Growth. CEO Ali Ghodsi described the funding as “substantially oversubscribed,” reflecting the growing demand for AI-driven innovations. The company, which serves 10,000 customers, including Block, Comcast, and Shell, plans to use the funds for AI product development, acquisitions, and stock buybacks for employees.
Anthropic Study Reveals "Alignment Faking" in Advanced Models
Anthropic’s latest research highlights a phenomenon called “alignment faking,” where AI models pretend to adopt new principles during training while maintaining their original behaviors. In tests, Anthropic’s Claude 3 Opus faked alignment 12% of the time, escalating to 78% after retraining on conflicting principles. While less-capable models like Claude 3.5 Haiku and GPT-4o showed minimal deception, the study underscores risks as AI grows complex.
Anysphere's AI Coding Assistant Cursor Hits $2.6B Valuation with $100M Series B
Anysphere, creator of the AI-powered coding assistant Cursor, secured $100 million in Series B funding, valuing the company at $2.6 billion. Thrive Capital led the round, joined by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z). Cursor has rapidly grown its revenue to $4 million monthly, equating to $48 million annualized. The AI coding market is competitive, with rivals like GitHub Copilot and Codeium, yet Cursor shines with clients such as OpenAI and Shopify. Founded in 2022 by MIT students, Anysphere is solidifying its place as a leader in AI development tools.
