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Huawei’s AI Lab Denies Copying Alibaba’s Qwen Model Amid Copyright Claims

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Huawei’s AI research division, Noah Ark Lab, has denied allegations that its Pangu Pro Moe (Mixture of Experts) large language model copied from Alibaba’s Qwen 2.5 14B model. The lab insisted on Saturday that Pangu Pro was independently developed and trained, refuting claims made in a report by an entity named HonestAGI.

HonestAGI published a paper on GitHub claiming “extraordinary correlation” between Huawei’s Pangu Pro Moe and Alibaba’s Qwen model, suggesting that Huawei’s model might have been “upcycled” rather than trained from scratch. The report also raised concerns about potential copyright violations and false claims regarding Huawei’s investment in the model’s training.

In response, Noah Ark Lab stated that their model is not based on incremental training from other manufacturers’ models but instead includes key innovations in architecture and technical features. They highlighted that Pangu Pro is the first large-scale model built entirely on Huawei’s Ascend chips and confirmed adherence to open-source licensing rules for any third-party code used—though they did not specify which open-source models influenced their work.

Alibaba has yet to comment on the allegations, and the identity of HonestAGI remains unknown. The controversy comes amid rising competition in China’s AI sector, which has been accelerated by the release of open-source models like DeepSeek’s R1 and Alibaba’s Qwen family, designed for consumer and chatbot applications. In contrast, Huawei’s Pangu models are primarily applied in government, finance, and manufacturing sectors.

China Urges Cautious but Rapid Development of Assisted-Driving Technology

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China’s automakers are rapidly advancing assisted-driving technology, eager to capture a growing market. However, Beijing is pushing for a balanced approach—accelerate innovation but ensure safety and accountability.

Key Points:

  • Rapid Innovation, Careful Oversight: Chinese regulators are finalizing new safety rules for driver-assistance systems following a fatal crash involving a Xiaomi SU7 sedan in March, which killed three occupants shortly after the driver resumed control from the system.

  • Regulatory Approach:

    • China bans terms like “smart” and “autonomous” in marketing to avoid overselling capabilities.

    • Current rules allow automatic steering, braking, and acceleration only with driver engagement.

    • New regulations will require hardware/software to monitor driver alertness and control readiness.

  • Collaboration and Public Input:

    • Regulators worked with Dongfeng and Huawei to draft rules, with public consultation ending recently.

    • Plans to resume Level 3 validation tests this year after being paused post-Xiaomi crash; the first Level 3 vehicle approval expected in 2026.

  • Level 3 Ambitions:

    • Level 3 allows drivers to take eyes off the road under certain conditions—midway between basic driver-assist and full autonomy.

    • China has promoted Level 3 tests and aims to be a global leader in assisted-driving tech.

  • Industry Competition:

    • China’s automakers like BYD and Zeekr are aggressively pushing Level 2 and Level 3 tech, often offering features at low or no additional cost.

    • At the Shanghai auto show, Huawei and Geely’s Zeekr highlighted Level 3 readiness.

    • Traditional foreign automakers like Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen focus on advanced driver-assist features but hold back on Level 3 due to higher costs and liability concerns.

  • Safety and Liability:

    • New regulations hold manufacturers and suppliers liable for accidents caused by system failures, similar to recent UK legislation.

  • Strategic Context:

    • China is using this push to support its domestic auto industry, much like its earlier backing of electric vehicles.

    • Over 60% of new cars sold in China this year are estimated to include Level 2 driver-assist features.

Expert Insights:

Markus Muessig of Accenture Greater China notes that China’s “feel the stones to cross the river” approach—steady, cautious exploration of new tech—has been effective. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz’s CTO Markus Schaefer highlights the ongoing challenges with balancing cost and safety requirements for Level 3 systems.

Foreign Phone Sales in China Drop Nearly 10% in May Amid Rising Local Competition

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Sales of foreign-branded smartphones in China, including those from Apple Inc., fell 9.7% year-on-year in May, according to data released on Friday by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT).

Total shipments of non-Chinese brands dropped to 4.54 million units in May, compared to the same month in 2023. Although CAICT did not provide a breakdown by company, Apple’s dominant share among foreign players means its performance heavily influenced the overall decline.

The data highlights the intensifying competition foreign manufacturers face from domestic brands like Huawei, Xiaomi, and Honor. Apple has been particularly impacted, prompting the tech giant to implement aggressive pricing strategies, including discounts of up to 2,530 yuan ($351) on iPhone 16 models through Chinese e-commerce platforms.

Meanwhile, the broader Chinese phone market also saw a significant contraction. Total smartphone shipments in the country fell 21.8% year-on-year, with 23.72 million units sold in May.

Analysts say the data reflect both weak consumer demand and a growing shift toward homegrown technology, amid rising geopolitical and market pressures.