China Unicom

Alibaba’s shares rose after reports of a deal with China Unicom to use its AI chips, boosting China’s domestic semiconductor efforts. China Unicom will deploy Alibaba’s Pingtouge AI accelerators for a large-scale data center project, also using chips from MetaX and Biren. This move aligns with China’s push for self-reliance amidst geopolitical tensions and export restrictions on advanced AI chips, particularly as Nvidia faces regulatory hurdles. Alibaba is developing new AI chips and operates a major cloud platform, further emphasizing its role in China’s AI landscape.

The 2025 China Unicom Partner Conference in Shanghai focused on “Synergy for Real-World Impact.” Qualcomm highlighted its collaboration with China Unicom, receiving an award for contributions to the terminal ecosystem. Qualcomm showcased 5G Advanced and AI innovations across devices, emphasizing on-device AI’s growth and its impact on industries. The partnership between Qualcomm and China Unicom drives advancements in 5G-A and AI integration, enabling a robust digital ecosystem. They demonstrated AI applications, 5G-A Gigabit network capabilities, and XR experiences, paving the way for intelligent connectivity and new quality productivity.