Chinese technology companies Xiaomi and Alibaba Group Holding have launched extensive recruitment drives. These efforts focus heavily on artificial intelligence talent, reflecting fierce global competition. Both firms are increasingly positioning themselves as AI-first businesses.

Microsoft has introduced new features for its Copilot research assistant, allowing users to employ multiple artificial intelligence models simultaneously within single workflows. This move represents the latest effort by the Big Tech organisation to enhance its AI offering and encourage greater adoption across its user base.

Space-tech firm Voyager Technologies, identified by its stock ticker VOYG.N, has entered into a mission management contract with robotics startup Icarus Robotics. The agreement dictates the demonstration of a free-flying robotic system aboard the International Space Station, a crucial orbital research facility. Both organisations publicly announced the details of this collaboration.

China's science fiction industry recorded significant revenue growth, reaching a total of USD 18.2 billion last year. This figure, up 15.7 per cent from the previous year, represents a new high for the sector, according to a report cited by the South China Morning Post. Public interest in science fiction content surged alongside this financial expansion.

A prolonged overnight outage at Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek disrupted service for hundreds of millions of users, sparking widespread complaints across social media platforms. The company’s chatbot website and app were offline, according to a company notice and user feedback. Credit: DEEPSEEK The Hangzhou-based AI laboratory began investigating the disruption after its namesake chatbot went offline from Sunday evening. DeepSeek issued fixes between 1 a.m.

ByteDance has bolstered its controversial video-generation model, Seedance 2.0, with advanced watermarking and intellectual property (IP) protection guardrails. This move precedes its global rollout amidst intense scrutiny from Hollywood studios.

DJI, the world’s largest drone maker, has launched its first 360-degree drone, the DJI Avata 360, directly challenging domestic rival Insta360 in a market segment now central to an escalating patent war. This new product marks a significant expansion for the company beyond traditional aerial photography.

Netflix has increased subscription prices across all its plans in the United States. This move comes as the streaming giant expands into new programming formats, including video podcasts and live sporting events.

Microsoft executives have instructed managers in key divisions, including its cloud unit and North American sales groups, to suspend new hiring. The Information reported this decision on Thursday, citing three employees with direct knowledge. Credit: UNSPLASH Managers were told to halt hiring for any new candidates who did not already possess a job offer. The reported reasons for this pause include the need to cut costs and boost margins. The hiring freeze is not company-wide

McDonald's deployed humanoid robots for a temporary greeting at the opening of its Shanghai Science and Technology Museum restaurant. The machines, supplied by Chinese firm Keenon Robotics, were part of a five-day trial.