Tech China Post #123

Big technology companies are expanding surveillance technology to help the Chinese government identify and track human contacts and the spread of virus. It would be interesting to see how each government applies technology to contact tracing for public health in the future.(link)

Chinese AI company Megvii is making MegEngine, a proprietary AI platform, open to the public. MegEngine can train computer vision at scale. Megvii is viewing MegEngine as an alternative to Tensorflow and other AI services by major Western technology companies. (link)

Drones, robots, and AI have been deployed to help China combat Covid19. Many expect that Covid19 is paving the way for more application (potentially aided by more relaxed regulation) of robots and drones to combat infectious diseases where reduction in human-to-human contact is key. (link)

A recent survey by the American Chamber of Commerce suggests that American companies with strong presence in China will continue to bet on China. While most are faced with significant revenue decline in the short term, 40% of those surveyed said their investment plans in China have not changed. (link)

The U.S. government blocked Beijing Shiji Information Technology from acquiring the Hotel Software Company, an American technology company providing cloud-based hotel management software. (link)

Chinese government, domestic banks, and technology companies will launch the Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN) for companies and governments to be able to build blockchain-based apps using this national blockchain network with standardized protocols. (link)