The competition in the AI field is so intense that users of chatbots are receiving rewards in the form of actual money, iPhones, and televisions.

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      With billions on the line and Apple closely observing, leading AI companies in China are transforming user acquisition into a high-stakes promotional battle ahead of the upcoming launches of their next-generation models.

      Nadeem Sarwar / Digital Trends

      Chinese AI leaders like Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu are utilizing "red envelopes" or cash gifts to attract users to their chatbots prior to the anticipated debut of their new AI models later this month, according to a Techxplore report citing AFP.

      For example, Alibaba has set aside a budget of CNY 3 billion (roughly USD 430 million) to reward users of its AI application, Qwen. The promotional effort is set to begin on February 6, 2026, aligned with the Chinese New Year.

      Qwen Chat / Alibaba

      Chinese firms are gearing up for a next-gen AI competition

      Following Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu are also set to launch their promotional campaigns. Tencent has pledged CNY 1 billion, offering top prizes of around CNY 10,000, while Baidu is giving away CNY 500 million in cash as well as items like iPhones and TVs.

      To qualify for cash prizes or iPhones, Chinese users must register with the designated AI applications and engage with them (by asking questions about complicated subjects, making holiday plans, etc.) during the promotional timeframe; it’s quite straightforward.

      It’s apparent that the Chinese AI giants are eager to boost their active user count before introducing their new and sophisticated models this month, but the motivations behind the substantial promotional budget of approximately CNY 4.5 billion may extend beyond that.

      Digital Trends

      Why Apple might be closely monitoring China’s AI competition

      As they unveil advanced AI models, these companies find themselves in competition with international AI entities like Google and OpenAI. Alibaba, for example, asserts that its Qwen3-Max-Thinking model surpasses Google’s Gemini 3 in reasoning capabilities.

      In that context, the Chinese firms are also looking to become Apple’s local AI partner in the region. As Apple cannot utilize Gemini for its advanced AI features (including the updated Siri) in China, it must delegate backend operations to a platform that adheres to its strict requirements.

      A Bloomberg report from February 2025 suggests that Apple will employ Alibaba’s AI in China, though the iPhone manufacturer has yet to verify this information. Once Apple selects a Chinese partner for its forthcoming Apple Intelligence features, it is expected to announce the provider either publicly or to its investors.

      For over five years, Shikhar has continuously clarified developments in consumer technology...

      Why your next smart glasses might finally offer sharp visuals

      A micro-LED breakthrough may soon provide near-lifelike resolution for AR and VR headsets.

      A persistent challenge for augmented reality (AR) and mixed-reality smart glasses might finally be resolved. A research team led by Professor Sanghyeon Kim at the School of Electrical Engineering, in collaboration with Inha University and various industry partners, has created a micro-LED display technology capable of ultra-high resolution of approximately 1,700 pixels per inch (PPI). This is about three to four times sharper than most flagship smartphone displays today, offering a level of detail that could significantly enhance the immersive quality of wearable visuals.

      For perspective, Micro-LEDs are a type of self-emissive display technology that has notable advantages over OLEDs, such as increased brightness, longer lifespan, and better power efficiency, which are essential for compact, battery-powered gadgets like smart glasses. To date, producing ultra-high-resolution micro-LED displays in such small sizes has posed a significant engineering challenge, especially in designing tiny red pixels that function efficiently while avoiding excessive power consumption.

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      Your phone might remain cool thanks to a novel battery innovation

      Researchers have developed a “thermal diode” that could regulate heat flow and prolong battery lifespan.

      Devices that tend to heat up, like smartphones and electric vehicles, may soon benefit from an innovative tool designed to keep them cool. Engineers at the University of Houston have created a new thermal management approach that operates like a "thermal diode," allowing heat to travel in one direction only. This advancement, based on the principle of thermal rectification, has been developed by Bo Zhao, an acclaimed engineering professor at the Cullen College of Engineering, along with his doctoral student, Sina Jafari Ghalekohneh. The technology could theoretically assist electronics in managing hot spots, potentially extending battery longevity and preventing overheating, as detailed in the publication Physical Review Research.

      Currently, smartphones and portable devices often face thermal issues because conventional materials permit thermal energy to move in all directions. This means that heat generated by batteries or processors can persist or even flow back into components, causing high temperatures, decreased performance, and quicker battery degradation. The new thermal diode configuration alters this situation by directing heat forward while obstructing reverse heat flow,