Key facts
- Apple is developing a China-specific AI model with Alibaba's support.
- Apple is in talks with publishers to license content for Siri AI.
- Apple is proposing a variable compensation model for publisher content.
- Apple has a nine-figure budget for Siri AI content licensing.
- Pony.ai and Uber will deploy over 2,000 robotaxis in Europe.
- Pony.ai and Uber's robotaxi service began in Zagreb, Croatia in May 2025.
- Applied Materials projects revenue growth in China by 2026.
- DeepSeek will increase API prices for V4 models by up to 1100% starting August 17.
- DeepSeek has released its DeepSeek-V4-Pro model with enhanced agent capabilities.
- Alibaba has added commercial restrictions to its Qwen3.8-Max AI model.
Apple has developed a large language model specifically for the Chinese market, enlisting Alibaba Group's assistance for training and support. This strategic move is intended to help Apple navigate China's stringent regulatory landscape and effectively compete with local companies that are already offering AI-equipped devices.
In parallel, Apple is reportedly in discussions with various publishers to license their content for integration into its forthcoming Siri AI assistant. The tech giant is proposing a compensation structure that is variable, basing payments on content usage rather than a fixed fee. This initiative is backed by a budget in the nine figures.
In the autonomous driving sector, Chinese firm Pony.ai and ride-sharing company Uber are set to expand their existing partnership. They plan to deploy more than 2,000 robotaxis across Europe. This collaboration, which commenced in May 2025 with a service launch in Zagreb, Croatia, is slated to expand to four additional European cities and may also extend to the Middle East.
Applied Materials, a prominent U.S. supplier of chip manufacturing equipment, has reported record earnings and revised its 2026 revenue outlook upward, largely due to robust demand for artificial intelligence. The company anticipates its revenue from China will increase by 2026, notwithstanding the existing U.S. export restrictions.
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek is preparing to implement significant price increases for its V4 models. Starting August 17, API prices for the V4 Pro and V4 Flash models will rise by 50% to 1100%. The company has also officially launched its flagship DeepSeek-V4-Pro model, which features enhanced agent capabilities.
Alibaba has introduced commercial restrictions to its open-weight Qwen3.8-Max large language model. This update to the model's license now prohibits its use in commercial applications without obtaining explicit permission, which could affect its business adoption.