technology

Lost and Found: Seeking Solace in Street View Snapshots

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

SIXTH TONE ×

Netizens struggling with grief or homesickness are turning to street-level navigation apps in search of lost loved ones and former homes.

White Night Workshop

China to Launch Latest Crewed Space Mission

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

Shenzhou-19 will carry a new crew to China’s Tiangong space station, where they will perform a series of scientific experiments.

Ding Rui

China’s Solution for Trash-Strewn Mountains: Robot Dog Porters

The four-legged robots are being used to remove tons of garbage from Mount Tai — and guilt-trip tourists who litter.

Cracking the Love Code: The Struggles of AI Romance Apps

Developers of AI software in China have found it difficult to convert romance into revenues despite users’ desire to splash out on virtual lovers.

Hu Xiu

‘Flying Cars’ Are Part of China’s New Economic Growth Plan

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

China is targeting a new economic growth driver by opening up the skies to drones and helicopters.

Li Xin

Li Miaoran

Huawei Takes a Bite Out of Apple With Rival Phone Launch

The tech giants are going head-to-head in China by launching new handsets on the same day. And the momentum appears to be with Huawei.

China Now Has Nearly 1.1 Billion Internet Users, Report Finds 

The country gained more than 7 million new users in the first half of 2024, with many signing up to watch short video content.

Learning to Walk — In an Exoskeleton

Visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization.

MULTIMEDIA

Lü Xiao

Liu Zhuo’er

How AI Hosts Flooded China’s Livestream Platforms

The bots are cheap, obedient, and never need to take a break from hawking goods. But do customers actually like them?

Fan Yiying

Dong Ziqing

On the Go: The Humans Steering the Future of China’s Robotaxis

Safety operators and the data they collect are playing a crucial role as Baidu’s Apollo Go program looks to further expand in Wuhan and beyond.

Beijing Youth Daily

In Wuhan, Robotaxis Put China’s Self-Driving Ambitions to the Test

With government support and backing from tech giants, robotaxis are rapidly integrating into daily life in China. But the rollout is sparking a nationwide debate.

Ye Zhanhang

Wang Jingyang

Raised by ‘Wolves’: The Rise of China’s Cutthroat Start-Up Scene 

Your questions, answered. In-depth interviews with the minds and makers shaping today’s China.

Q & A

How did “wolf culture” become part of Chinese tech culture’s DNA?

Cai Yineng

With AI, China’s New Hit Dramas Are Virtually Writing Themselves

More and more of China’s ultrashorts are now being crafted entirely by AI, from script to special effects. But as the technology advances, concerns about creativity and authenticity continue to grow.

Lin Liuhan

Behind the Numbers: China’s Big Market for Mini Games

The tiny titles have found a niche catering to players uninterested in their larger, less nimble app-based competitors.

Luo Yahan

Baidu’s Mass Robotaxi Rollout Stirs Heated Debate in China

Hundreds of Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxis are now operating on the streets of Wuhan, but it has been far from a smooth ride.

For Chinese Journalists, An Uphill Battle to Scrutinize AI

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

Chinese media should hold AI systems and their proponents accountable through their reporting, but limited newsroom budgets and a lack of talent are reducing their chances of doing so.

Joanne Kuai

Logout Log: The Insider Tracking Resignations in China’s Big Tech

Wang Jian catalogs social media posts of individuals who quit their tech jobs to escape the corporate grind. Over the last month, his blog has surged in popularity among those disillusioned by high-pressure careers.

He Qitong

China Has a Problem With AI Fraud. Can a Browser Plugin Solve It? 

The rise of deepfake technology has led to a surge in fraud cases in China over the past year. But a new AI detection tool could help stem the tide.

Li Dongxu

For Chinese Students, the New Tactic Against AI Checks: More AI

In recent months, Chinese universities have begun using advanced AI systems to detect machine-generated content in dissertations. In response, students, including those who did not initially use chatbots, are turning to AI tools to ensure their work passes these stringent checks.

Young Chinese Have Almost No Concerns About AI, Survey Finds

A new study has found that China’s Gen-Z are strikingly unfazed by the risks posed by artificial intelligence. They are far more concerned about how to use AI to make money — and feel less lonely.