Tech China Post 90

U.K. Intelligence Agency, M16, is evaluating whether to allow Huawei to be country’s provider of the 5G network. 5G network technology is further pushing data processing to the network endpoints and edge. This creates a bigger and more diverse network of data hubs that pose potential challenge for national cyber security interests. (link)

Tesla’s production factory outside of the U.S. will be in Shanghai. The factory will open in the second half of 2019, according to the Shanghai government. Tesla has started a WeChat account to hire local employees. China is an important market for Tesla. In 2017, Tesla sold more than $2 billion worth of cars in China alone, making China one of its biggest markets. There are more than 1000 Tesla supercharger stations in China, three of which are the largest in the world. (link)

SoftBank hired Facebook executive Kirthiga Reddy to join as its first female partner. The $100B fund, managed by Masayoshi Son, looks to hire more investors to help deploy its mega fund. (link)

Baidu has been a prolific AI patent applicant. According to filings, Baidu has filed more than 2,368 AI patents in China. The patent applications focus on natural language processing, smart search, recommendation systems, speech recognition, and autonomous navigation. The other major AI patent filers in China are Tencent, Microsoft, and Samsung. (link)

Alibaba will establish a new logistics hub in Liege, Belgium. As part of the deal, Alibaba will invest more than $80 million in Liege’s infrastructure including its airport. (link)