H.E.R.O.’s Journey in Tech (19 March 2019) – AI algorithms are now shockingly good at doing science; Whether probing the evolution of galaxies or discovering new chemical compounds, algorithms are detecting patterns no humans could have spotted.

H.E.R.O.’s Journey in Tech (19 March 2019) – AI algorithms are now shockingly good at doing science; Whether probing the evolution of galaxies or discovering new chemical compounds, algorithms are detecting patterns no humans could have spotted.

Companies

• China Literature readies free app as paid user numbers fall (Nikkei)
• Meituan latest Chinese unicorn to suffer post-listing slump; Delivery platform joins Xiaomi and Ping An Healthcare in getting sidetracked (Nikkei)
• China’s Largest Streaming Site iQiyi Is Coming After TikTok (Bloomberg)
• Here’s what you need to know about Wuhan Guide Infrared – China’s biggest thermal imager; China’s public security authorities have also bought Guide’s equipment to help track down criminals, for traffic surveillance, and for use in big infrastructure projects (SCMP)
• Chinese ethnic music gets global platform; Tencent Music is seeking to introduce the country’s ethnic music to a global audience at a major music festival in the United States (CD)
• Bandai Namco looks to be continuing development on their own Game Engine (GN)
• South Korea’s Kakao supplies voice assist for Hyundai cars; AI provides info on weather and stock prices in upcoming Sonata (Nikkei)
• Innodisk Showcasing Integrated AIoT Solutions with Strategic Partners at Embedded World 2019 (PRNW)
• Atlassian continues to focus on its base after Slack deal, with another acquisition (MW)
• WiseTech buying spree boosted by $250m capital raise (AFR)
• Australia’s Tech Stocks Trump U.S., Asia With 200% Rise (Bloomberg)

BATTSS – Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, TSMC, Samsung, Softbank

• Alibaba AI Labs to introduce AI cold call terminator (KRA)
• Alibaba launches free streaming of US basketball games (Nikkei)
• Shenzhen’s public transit now has a blockchain e-invoicing system built by Tencent (KRA)

FAANNMG – Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Nvidia, Netflix, Microsoft, Google

• These are the robots that help you get your Amazon packages on time (TC)
• Most Amazon Brands Are Duds, Not Disrupters, Study Finds (Bloomberg)
• What is Amazon? (ZK)
• Apple Business Chat drives in-seat drink ordering at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland (TC)
• Apple ready to unveil big bet on television; Will media companies sign up to Apple’s TV platform? (FT)
• Can Google Create the Netflix of Gaming? (Bloomberg)
• Nvidia AI turns sketches into photorealistic landscapes in seconds (TC); Toyota doubles down on Nvidia tech for self-driving cars (TC); Nvidia bags Amazon Web Services in its latest data-center chip push (MW); Nvidia partners with Softbank to deploy cloud gaming servers in Japan (Reuters)
• Streaming wars heat up as rivals prepare to challenge Netflix (JT); Netflix says it will not join Apple TV service (Reuters)

Asia Tech & Innovation Trends

• Xiaohongshu testing WeChat mini-program in e-commerce expansion (Technode)
• Chinese social commerce app Peanut Diary fined for alleged pyramid scheme (KRA)
• Meituan and Tencent-backed Chinese consumer goods platform Yijiupi raises $100m series D+ (KRA)
• Chinese TechCrunch Rival 36Kr Is Said to Plan Overseas IPO (Bloomberg)
• China’s crowded co-working industry turns to services amid funding crunch (Reuters)
• Shenzhen Transsion applies to raise capital on Shanghai’s technology board after taking Africa’s phone market by storm (SCMP)
• South Korea radar and thermal camera system warns ‘smartphone zombies’ of traffic (Reuters)
• Corporate training online marketplace GO1 has become the first Australian start-up to be backed by Microsoft’s global venture capital arm M12, (AFR)
• Singtel signs deal to expand mobile wallet alliance to Japan (Reuters)
• Southeast Asia hastens 5G shift to close development gap; Vietnam and Thailand aim to parlay technology into advances in self-driving and AI (Nikkei)

Global Tech & Innovation Trends

• AI algorithms are now shockingly good at doing science; Whether probing the evolution of galaxies or discovering new chemical compounds, algorithms are detecting patterns no humans could have spotted. (Wired)
• KashFlow founder Duane Jackson has launched Staffology, a payroll SaaS and API (TC)
• WorkClout brings SaaS to factory floor to increase operational efficiency (TC)
• S. firm FIS buys Worldpay for $35 billion in payments deal bonanza (Reuters)
• “A Modified Ponzi Scheme”: 78% Of Tesla Operating Cash Flow Has Come From Customer Deposits (ZH)
• The Unicorn’s ‘Van Wilder’ moment (FT)

Life

• Astrophysicist and Author Janna Levin Reads “Berryman” by W.S. Merwin: Some of the Finest and Most Soul-Salving Advice on How to Stay Sane as an Artist (BP)
• Yes, It’s All Your Fault: Active vs. Passive Mindsets (FS)
• Kingdee dropped 14 percent after David Webb published a critical report calling it a “bubble stock.” (Bloomberg)