Tobias

Gree Electric’s Chairperson Dong Mingzhu asserted that consumers are “making a mistake” if they don’t use Gree appliances, emphasizing the energy efficiency and health benefits of their products. She specifically highlighted the refrigerators’ ability to keep produce fresh for 20 days, claiming substantial electricity bill savings. This direct marketing approach, though controversial, is a hallmark of Dong’s leadership and contributes to Gree’s brand recognition. She also addressed consumer perceptions regarding air conditioner airflow and health benefits.

Tesla is reportedly shutting down its Dojo project, a move indicating a shift towards external partnerships for its AI needs. Head of Dojo, Peter Bannon, is expected to leave. Tesla plans to enhance collaborations with Nvidia and AMD for computing, and deepen its partnership with Samsung in chip manufacturing, evidenced by a $16.5 billion deal. Samsung will reportedly produce Tesla’s AI6 chip, while TSMC will manufacture the AI5. Tesla also plans to diversify Dojo’s supply chain, engaging Samsung and Intel for chip manufacturing and packaging.

Intel released a statement affirming its commitment to U.S. national and economic security amid reports of calls for CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s resignation. The company highlighted its significant investments in U.S. semiconductor R&D and manufacturing, including a new fab in Arizona. The statement follows alleged pressure from sources close to former President Trump. Tan, Intel’s first CEO of Chinese descent, was appointed in March 2025 and has a strong background in technology and investment. Intel is reportedly engaging with U.S. government officials to address concerns.

Alibaba’s 88VIP program now offers a discounted Hema X Gold membership (¥88/$12 USD) to its subscribers, a significant reduction from the usual ¥258 ($36 USD). Existing Hema members can also leverage this benefit and re-enroll. This move, part of 88VIP’s 7th-anniversary revamp, includes new perks like preferential delivery, travel benefits, and discounted tickets. Hema saw a doubling of X Gold memberships after integrating with 88VIP. The enhanced program boasts over 20 benefits, aiming to boost customer loyalty within Alibaba’s ecosystem.

With the arrival of “Beginning of Autumn” on August 7th, Douyin Life Services reports a surge in food & beverage group-buying orders related to traditional customs like “autumn fattening.” Braised pork belly orders jumped 103% year-over-year, while watermelon and winter melon orders increased by 41% and 83% respectively. Restaurants are leveraging Douyin to offer themed group-buying deals, reflecting the platform’s ability to transform cultural traditions into e-commerce opportunities and cater to seasonal consumer interests.

Actress Zhao Lusi’s recent livestream endorsement of bamboo fungus (“zhusun”) triggered a massive surge in online sales. Vendors reported unprecedented website traffic and order volumes. Historically used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its health benefits, cultivated zhusun is now more accessible. This highlights the significant impact of celebrity endorsements on niche product markets and reflects growing consumer interest in functional foods.

A Hunan man in China won 12.56 million yuan (about $1.75 million USD) in the Super Lotto with a 6-yuan ticket. The experienced lottery player, who has been consistently buying tickets for over a decade, views it as a fun activity and a contribution to public welfare. The win sparked online discussion, with some sharing their less fortunate experiences and others questioning lottery industry market dynamics. The winner advises a balanced approach, cautioning against treating the lottery as gambling.

OpenAI has launched GPT-5, touted as a significant upgrade with expert-level performance in programming, mathematics, writing, healthcare, and visual perception. GPT-5 features an intelligent model, a deep reasoning engine, and a real-time router. Free and paid users will get access, with subscribers enjoying higher usage. GPT-5 demonstrates improvements in response time, accuracy, instruction following, and reduced hallucination. It excels in programming, creative writing, and healthcare. GPT-5 Pro surpasses o3-Pro for complex tasks, achieving state-of-the-art results in GPQA.

Viral videos of individuals in Meituan uniforms alleging food safety issues have sparked controversy. Meituan responded, stating these “misery selling” videos are often fabricated and scripted. Investigations revealed accounts posting false claims about fines and negative reviews. These accounts, with low delivery completion rates, use similar tactics to gain traffic and sell courses privately. Meituan has banned the accounts, reported them to authorities, and cautions viewers about the videos’ authenticity. They’ve assisted in investigating over 30 cases in 2024.

Lenovo Moto unveiled the razr 60 Ice Diamond Limited Edition, a jewelry-inspired foldable phone, at its “Dazzling Attraction” event. The limited edition bundle, promoted by Zhang Yuxi, includes diamond-encrusted razr 60, Ice Diamond Buds Clip, and accessories. Featuring a unique ice-melt blue color and 3D diamond pattern with 34 crystals, it boasts a 50MP camera, 3.6-inch external display, and AI assistant. The Buds Clip mirror the phone’s design and offer Bose-tuned audio.