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Time:2026-07-09T14:25:10Z

Chinese semiconductor and AI companies are racing to public markets, with CXMT planning a $4.3B IPO and Zhipu AI launching a HK$31.4B share sale, as the AI boom fuels demand across memory chips, circuit boards, and model development. Beijing has reportedly allowed Chinese AI firms to purchase Nvidia's H200 chips, temporarily easing the training bottleneck while maintaining long-term self-sufficiency goals, as domestic labs increasingly look beyond models to hardware. Meanwhile in Britain, skepticism is growing around the government's AI growth zone plans, with local communities pushing back against datacentre projects and analysts questioning feasibility.

Chinese tech firms surge toward public listings amid AI boom

Chinese tech firms surge toward public listings amid AI boomChinese semiconductor and AI companies are rapidly heading to public markets, capitalizing on AI-driven demand. Memory chipmaker CXMT is planning a $4.3 billion IPO on Shanghai's Star Market, while Zhipu AI and chipmaker Iluvatar CoreX have launched Hong Kong share sales targeting a combined HK$38.5 billion. The trend extends beyond chipmakers, with over 20 PCB makers announcing aggressive expansion plans and pouring hundreds of millions into high-end production lines to feed the AI infrastructure boom.

Sources:
Chinese chipmaker CXMT set for US$4.3b IPO, riding memory boomListing would rank behind only SMIC’s on Shanghai’s Star Market, as AI demand boosts memory-chip market. (SCMP)
Zhipu AI and Iluvatar CoreX soar after launching Hong Kong share salesGLM-5.2 model developer Zhipu AI is seeking to raise HK$31.4 billion, while chipmaker Iluvatar CoreX is targeting HK$7.1 billion. (SCMP)
China’s circuit-board makers push capex towards record to feed AI boomHundreds of millions of dollars invested in high-end plants as more than 20 PCB makers disclose aggressive expansion plans. (SCMP)

Beijing relaxes chip curbs as AI labs turn to hardware

Beijing relaxes chip curbs as AI labs turn to hardwareChina has reportedly allowed its AI firms to purchase Nvidia's H200 chips for the first time, a move analysts describe as a temporary measure to ease the AI training bottleneck while Beijing stays committed to long-term technological self-sufficiency. The policy shift comes as a 'token economy' emerges around AI usage in China, and major labs like DeepSeek and Zhipu increasingly look beyond large language models to develop their own chips, signaling a strategic pivot toward vertical integration in the AI supply chain.

Sources:
Game-changer? Why China is finally letting its AI firms buy the Nvidia H200Beijing aims to ‘temporarily ease the training bottleneck’ in China’s AI industry, but it remains focused on tech self-sufficiency, analysts say. (SCMP)
‘Token economy’ emerging as AI use soars in China, experts tell conference (SCMP)
Why Chinese AI labs like DeepSeek and Zhipu are looking beyond models to chips (SCMP)

UK AI growth zones face local backlash and feasibility doubts

UK AI growth zones face local backlash and feasibility doubtsBritain's newly proposed AI growth zones are drawing sharp criticism from local communities and analysts alike. A village in Scotland chosen for an AI datacentre has seen resident hope turn to fear, while industry experts describe the government's plans as 'smoke and mirrors' and 'complete bunk.' Stalled datacentre projects globally are also threatening the AI revolution, raising questions about whether infrastructure bottlenecks could derail the sector's rapid expansion.

Sources:
ExplainerWhat are Britain’s AI growth zones and are the plans feasible or ‘complete bunk’? (The Guardian)
AI‘It’s smoke and mirrors’: hope turns to fear in Scottish village chosen for AI datacentre (The Guardian)
Stymied datacentre projects threaten global AI revolution (The Guardian)