📰 News(6076)

Alibaba's new AI assistant Qwen has taken the consumer market by storm, reportedly surpassing 100 million monthly active users just two months after launch. The app, positioned as a 'personal AI assistant that can chat and handle tasks,' has found particular popularity among students and professionals. While Alibaba hasn't officially confirmed these numbers, the rapid adoption suggests strong consumer appetite for practical AI tools in daily life.

Anthropic has unveiled Cowork, a groundbreaking AI programming assistant developed primarily by its own Claude model in mere days. Designed to democratize coding, Cowork lets users complete tasks through simple voice commands - though Anthropic cautions about potential risks. The tool's rapid development showcases AI's growing capability to build itself.

Aishikeji's groundbreaking PixVerse R1 shatters boundaries between virtual and real worlds. This revolutionary model blends three cutting-edge technologies to create interactive digital environments that respond instantly to user input. From gaming worlds that breathe to movies you can influence, PixVerse opens doors for creators everywhere.

Vidu's groundbreaking 'one-click MV generation' transforms video creation. Simply upload music, images, and text prompts - their AI handles the rest. Multiple specialized agents collaborate seamlessly to produce professional-quality music videos in minutes, maintaining perfect style consistency throughout. This innovation makes complex video production accessible to everyone.

MiniMax has unveiled OctoCodingBench, a groundbreaking benchmark designed to evaluate how well AI programming assistants follow instructions in real-world coding scenarios. Unlike traditional tests that focus solely on task completion, this new standard assesses compliance with coding rules and project constraints. With 72 diverse scenarios and over 2,400 evaluation checkpoints, it promises to reshape how we measure AI's practical coding abilities.

South Korea's ambitious plan to build a homegrown AI industry has hit turbulence after three finalists in a government-backed competition were found using Chinese open-source code. While companies defend their approach as standard practice, the revelations have sparked debate about what truly constitutes 'self-reliant' AI development in today's interconnected tech landscape.

Google has unveiled MedGemma 1.5, an upgraded medical AI model that now interprets scans alongside text, plus MedASR for turning doctor's speech into notes. These open-source tools aim to ease diagnosis and paperwork burdens while maintaining strict privacy standards. The move signals Google's shift toward collaborative healthcare AI development.

Tesla is making a major change to how customers access its Full Self-Driving feature. Starting February 14, the company will no longer offer FSD as a one-time purchase, switching exclusively to a monthly subscription model. This shift could provide Tesla with more stable revenue while lowering the entry barrier for drivers wanting to try the advanced driver-assistance system. Current owners who bought FSD outright will retain permanent access, becoming the last group to own the feature without ongoing payments.

OpenAI is making waves in hardware development with its covert 'Sweetpea' project—a sleek AI audio device designed to rival Apple's AirPods. Teaming up with ex-Apple design guru Jony Ive, CEO Sam Altman is pushing boundaries with a pebble-shaped metal body and detachable ear capsules. Packed with cutting-edge 2nm chips and targeting 50 million units in its first year, Sweetpea could redefine how we interact with audio tech.

South Korea's ambitious plan to develop homegrown AI models faces scrutiny as several finalists in a government-backed competition were found using Chinese and American open-source code. While companies defend this as standard practice, critics question whether true technological sovereignty is possible in today's interconnected AI ecosystem. The controversy highlights the global challenge of balancing innovation with independence in artificial intelligence development.

Japan's new AI-free art platform TEGAKI saw explosive interest at launch, with 5,000 users flooding the site - 100 times more than expected. The hand-drawn-only community crashed within hours as artists embraced its strict anti-AI policies. Founder Tochi explains why protecting human creativity matters in the age of generative AI.

South Korea's push for AI independence faces unexpected hurdles as domestic models show striking similarities to Chinese open-source code. Three leading tech firms, including Naver and SK Telecom, stand accused of borrowing heavily from Chinese AI projects despite government backing for 'sovereign AI'. The revelations spark debate about balancing innovation with self-reliance in the global AI race.

OpenAI is secretly developing an AI-powered audio device codenamed 'Sweetpea', designed by Apple's former design chief Jony Ive. The sleek oval-shaped gadget features cutting-edge 2nm AI chips and innovative silent command technology. With Foxconn handling manufacturing, OpenAI aims to ship 40-50 million units in its first year, marking its bold move into consumer hardware.

Apple is giving Siri its most significant upgrade in years, transforming the voice assistant into a more empathetic and proactive companion. Powered by Google's Gemini technology, the new Siri will offer emotional support, handle complex travel bookings, and even tell bedtime stories. Expected to debut this spring, these changes promise to make Siri feel less like a digital tool and more like a helpful friend who understands your schedule and preferences.

Japan's new art platform TEGAKI is making waves by banning AI-generated content entirely. The site, whose name means 'hand-drawn,' requires artists to submit proof of manual creation through time-lapse videos and working files. Its launch proved unexpectedly popular - over 5,000 users signed up on day one, crashing the servers. Founder Tochi emphasizes this isn't about rejecting technology, but preserving a space for traditional artistic expression in an increasingly automated world.

Kuaishou's video generation AI, Kling, has reached impressive financial heights just 19 months after launch. The platform now generates over $20 million monthly, serving 60 million creators worldwide. Its success stems from continuous innovation, including breakthrough multimodal video capabilities that solve persistent industry challenges.

Google just leveled up its video generation game with Veo3.1, introducing seamless vertical video creation tailored for YouTube Shorts and other social platforms. The update brings smarter AI that captures expressive movements from simple prompts while maintaining visual consistency. Creators can now generate professional-quality vertical videos directly without cropping hassles, available across Google's ecosystem from Gemini apps to pro tools supporting 4K output.

JetBrains has unveiled CLion 2026.1, the first major update this year for its popular C/C++ IDE. Slated for March release, the update brings significant performance improvements, especially for Windows users, along with enhanced testing capabilities and debugging tools. Developers can look forward to smarter code analysis, broader build system support, and streamlined embedded development workflows.

Robotics startup 1X has introduced its groundbreaking 'World Model' AI system, designed to teach humanoid robots new skills through video observation. Unlike traditional programming, this approach enables robots to continuously evolve their capabilities by analyzing real-world physics and actions. The Neo robot, set for commercial release in 2025, could soon be learning tasks much like humans do - by watching and practicing.

Mike Krieger, Instagram co-founder and Anthropic's Chief Product Officer, is stepping into a new role leading the company's internal 'Labs' team focused on experimental AI products. As Anthropic plans to double its innovation team size within six months, Krieger sees this as a pivotal moment to shape AI applications firsthand. Meanwhile, Ami Vora will take over Krieger's product leadership duties as the startup intensifies its competition with tech giants.