Tag Archives: Alibaba

Why the Chinese government is sparing AI from harsh regulations—for now

Why the Chinese government is sparing AI from harsh regulations—for now

Take Alibaba and Tencent as examples. Since the 2000s, the two tech giants have made hundreds of mergers and investments, as a result of which their business empires expanded to include almost every aspect of digital life in China. This insatiable expansion came at the expense of users, who faced higher prices and less choice, […]

This Chinese map app wants to be a super app for everything outdoors

This Chinese map app wants to be a super app for everything outdoors

Amap, for example, is one of the most widely used map and navigation apps in China today. But when I open it on my phone, I can see over 30 functions that you wouldn’t find on Western-equivalent apps. Some of them still feel integral to the map experience, like recording when you last filled your […]

Shanghai’s lockdown tests China’s online grocery apps

Shanghai’s lockdown tests China’s online grocery apps

But things started to take a downturn last year. Despite the hype and money, these companies struggled to make a profit as lockdowns eased and people simply went back to shopping in person. What’s worse, they were caught in China’s new fight against antitrust behavior. The Chinese government was quick to impose fines and pen […]