QtrendsSony will stop producing disc-based PlayStation games by 2028, marking the end of physical gaming media from the company. UBTech has launched lifelike humanoid companion robots in China, pushing the boundaries of bionic robotics for mass production. The UN warns that rapid AI adoption could worsen global inequality, as policymakers struggle to keep pace with AI development. China's Kling AI nears an $18 billion valuation ahead of a planned Hong Kong IPO, while DeepSeek bucks China's AI price war with peak-hour surcharges. Nvidia competitor Etched hits a $5 billion valuation with $1 billion in AI chip sales, even as PC purchases see their sharpest drop in nearly three years due to rising memory and storage prices.
Sony has announced it will stop producing physical disc-based PlayStation games starting in 2028, transitioning fully to digital distribution. The decision marks the end of an era for physical gaming media from one of the industry's largest players. Reports from multiple outlets confirm the timeline and scope of the phase-out.
Chinese robotics company UBTech has unveiled ultra-bionic humanoid robots designed for companionship, with plans for mass production. The robots are described as eerily lifelike and are aimed at the consumer companion market. The launch highlights China's rapid advances in consumer robotics and embodied AI.
The United Nations has warned that the rapid spread of artificial intelligence could exacerbate global inequality, as policymakers struggle to keep up with the pace of development. Reports note that AI's threat to entry-level jobs is pushing Gen Z toward entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, China's tech advances in AI and robotics are challenging long-held assumptions about US technological exceptionalism.
China's Kling AI, a spin-off from Kuaishou Technology, is nearing a $3 billion funding round at an $18 billion valuation, with plans to start the Hong Kong listing process within a year. Meanwhile, DeepSeek is bucking China's AI price war by introducing peak-hour API surcharges, after triggering the price war with a permanent 75% discount on V4 access. Japan has also committed up to $6.2 billion to back SoftBank-led AI model development.
Nvidia competitor Etched has reached a $5 billion valuation with $1 billion in AI chip sales, signaling strong demand for alternatives in the AI hardware market. However, new PC purchases have seen their sharpest drop in nearly three years as rising memory and storage prices bite consumers. DDR5 RAM prices have fallen to multi-month lows, offering fleeting relief for builders.