China Innovation Watch

China Innovation Watch

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Baidu rewrites search for the AI age
Baidu is reshaping its search engine with AI-native tools, agent integration, and a massive open ecosystem—signaling China’s distinct path in the global…
Huawei’s rise, Apple’s rethink
Apple’s iPhone rebound in China came at a cost: deep discounts. Huawei leads as rational consumption reshapes China’s premium smartphone market.
China’s next interface: AI companions
Fusing tactile design with emotional intelligence, China’s AI companion boom is reshaping global norms in consumer tech, monetization, and intimacy…
Inside China’s FMCG slowdown and premium pivots
From discount shopping in smaller cities to premium toothpaste and coffee, China’s shoppers are redefining value. Here’s how brands are adapting to win.

June 2025

Why Starbucks blinked in China’s tea-led future
Starbucks is shedding its legacy in China, slashing prices, chasing tea trends, and mimicking local rival Luckin. It battles slowing growth in the…
China’s livestream boom just went fully digital
China livestream icon Luo Yonghao introduces dual digital avatars on Baidu, delivering over ¥55 million in sales and reshaping AI+livestreaming…
China’s 618 festival matures beyond the price war
This year's 618 marks a dramatic shift in China's retail strategy—less price-cutting, more platform cooperation, content-driven commerce, and instant…
Alibaba’s identity crisis spills into the open
From missed AI opportunities to bureaucratic dysfunction, this insider account exposes what’s broken inside Alibaba—and what’s at stake in China’s tech…
China’s quiet retail boom
China’s convenience stores are growing 9.1% YoY—outpacing all retail. Discover how tech, supply chains, and localization are driving a retail…
China’s social media go granular and AI-powered
Fragmenting platforms, emotion-first marketing, and AI-led decision-making are transforming China’s digital consumer landscape.
AI browsers reshape China’s tech battlefield
Alibaba and Tencent are transforming their browsers into AI-powered gateways, betting big on a new strategic front in China’s artificial intelligence…
Vintage photo trend turns heads in China
Scarcity, nostalgia, and celebrity influence turn a discontinued photo format into China’s latest consumer sensation.
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