Tobias

WWDC showcased a visual overhaul (“Liquid Glass”) but largely omitted AI advancements, contrasting with Google and Microsoft’s AI focus. While platforms were unified and features like multi-window iPadOS improved, significant AI integration was absent. Apple’s reliance on partners, limited AI mentions, and slow Siri rollout raise questions about their AI strategy and future innovation, particularly given its stock buyback focus over AI investment in comparison to its rivals.

Chinese automakers are adopting stricter payment terms, with firms like FAW and GAC committing to 60-day supplier payments. This mirrors a trend toward financial control, spurred by concerns about supply chain stability, and drew comparisons to the downfall of mobile maker Gionee, whose collapse due to financial mismanagement left suppliers unpaid, illustrating the risks of insufficient financial regulation in the sector.

Chinese EV makers are aggressively shortening supplier payment cycles, with a 60-day target becoming the new standard. Companies including Geely, Changan, and major state-owned enterprises are implementing this, intensifying competition. Xiaomi, showing forward-thinking supply chain management, has already adopted a 60-day model, offering faster payments than industry norms, thereby fostering supplier loyalty and innovation. Their flexible approach includes immediate payments for some orders and supply chain financing, though the latter raises some concerns. This shift allows suppliers to focus on R&D and quality.

To enhance user safety, TikTok launched an “Anti-Fraud Open Day” and an alliance with regulators. The platform combats scams, particularly impersonation and cross-platform redirect fraud, through customer service verification and AI-powered content moderation. TikTok bans over 80,000 scam accounts daily, blocks millions of suspicious content, and issues millions of warnings, protecting an average of 50,000 potential victims daily.

In China’s booming food delivery market, JD.com has emerged as a significant competitor, joining Meituan and Ele.me. With over 25 million daily orders as of June 2025, JD holds over 31% market share and leads premium restaurant delivery with 45%. JD’s strategy focuses on high-quality restaurants, employing commission reductions, promotional traffic, and enhanced delivery features to improve the customer experience.

CATL has commenced mass production of its 587Ah battery cells, heralding a new era in energy storage. These cells feature high energy density (435Wh/L), a 95.5% RTE, and a 25-year lifespan, along with enhanced safety measures. Integrated with the “Tianheng” system, they improve system returns and reduce self-discharge related malfunctions. Production occurs at CATL’s Jining “Lighthouse Factory,” emphasizing sustainability and advanced manufacturing.

On June 9th in Mumbai, India, passengers fell from an overcrowded local train, resulting in fatalities and injuries. Railway authorities attribute the incident to overcrowding and potential entanglement due to the close proximity of moving trains. An investigation is underway, with plans to implement automatic door-closing systems. This tragedy underscores safety concerns within India’s vast, aging rail network, which experiences frequent accidents despite recent improvements.

CNBC AI News reports on new regulations for live-stream shopping released by the General Administration of Market Regulation. The “Measures,” encompassing seven chapters, significantly increase platform operator responsibility, define the duties of hosts and sellers, strengthen government oversight, and outline legal consequences for non-compliance. These rules aim to foster a consumer-friendly environment and regulate the booming e-commerce sector.

Douyin, ByteDance’s short-video platform, launched an “Anti-Fraud Open Day” event in Beijing ahead of National Anti-Fraud Awareness Month 2025. They announced the “Douyin Anti-Fraud Alliance” with government bodies and appointed eight Anti-Fraud Ambassadors. Douyin actively fights fraud, suspending over 80,000 scam accounts daily and intercepting millions of suspicious posts, while proactively sending user alerts.

OpenAI acquired Jony Ive’s startup for $6.5 billion, focusing on AI hardware. Ive is leading projects including a wearable “pendant” voice-command device for ChatGPT, a tabletop home device similar to a smart speaker, and a future robotics project. The wearable aligns with rumors of a screenless AI phone, aiming to revolutionize AI-driven computing experiences under Ive’s design expertise, as praised by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.