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Chinese AI Startup Zhipu AI Attracts $137 Million Investment From State Funds
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
The Chinese artificial intelligence startup Zhipu AI raised 1 billion yuan—$137.22 million—in its latest funding round. The Beijing-based company shared the update in a post on WeChat today.
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Chinese AI startup Zhipu AI raised $137 million in its latest funding round to expand its AI ecosystem.
- The company plans to enhance its GLM large language model and develop projects in Zhejiang and the Yangtze River Delta.
- Zhipu AI remains blacklisted in the U.S., restricting its access to American AI chips and technology.
According to Reuters , Zhipu AI has gained relevance in the AI race, competing with major contendants in the region like DeepSeek and Alibaba. In December, it raised over 3 billion yuan—around $420 million —and with this latest investment, it has raised a total of $1.16 billion.
The main investors in the AI project are Hangzhou City Investment Group Industrial Fund—which also supports DeepSeek—and Shangcheng Capital, both state-backed firms. The deal shows Hangzhou City’s efforts to become a major AI hub in the region.
With the new investment, Zhipu AI said that it will expand its AI ecosystem and enhance its GLM large language model. The startup will also focus on developing projects in the Yangtze River Delta economic zone and the Zhejiang province.
This new push comes after DeepSeek’s success in the U.S. market , ranking first place on Apple’s App Store in January.
According to CNN , Zhipu AI, founded in 2019, is among the AI companies blacklisted in the U.S. by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security. It was added to the list on January 15, during the final days of Biden’s administration, as it was considered a threat to foreign policy interests and national security.
The AI startup cannot buy American technology, including Nvidia’s popular AI chips. It joined other tech companies with the same restrictions such as ZTE, Huawei, and SMIC. DeepSeek is not listed.
Besides investing in AI companies, the Chinese government and major institutions have made significant progress in adopting advanced local AI technology. China’s ports have been using DeepSeek AI’s customized model to streamline operations, and Chinese universities have begun implementing courses centered around DeepSeek .
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UK Investigates TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur Over Children’s Data Privacy
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
The United Kingdom’s data protection watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), announced this Monday that it has launched an investigation into how Reddit, TikTok, and the image-sharing platform Imgur safeguard children’s personal information.
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- The UK’s ICO is investigating Reddit, TikTok, and Imgur over concerns about children’s data protection.
- The probe examines TikTok’s content recommendations and Reddit and Imgur’s age verification measures.
- The investigation aligns with the UK’s Children’s Code, aiming to strengthen online child safety.
According to the official announcement , the decision to pursue these investigations follows growing concerns about data usage.
“We welcome the technology and innovation that companies like social media bring to the UK and want them to thrive in our economy. But this cannot be at the expense of children’s privacy,” said John Edwards, UK Information Commissioner. “If social media and video sharing platforms want to benefit from operating in the UK they must comply with data protection law.”
The ICO explained that the TikTok investigation is focused on the use of data from children between 13 and 17 years old and the recommendations this platform’s algorithms have been suggesting. The institution raised concerns over harmful and inappropriate suggestions to teenagers in the U.K.
The investigations into Reddit and Imgur are also related to the use of data but focus more on age assurance measures. A recent report shared by the Australian online safety regulator ESafety , revealed concerns regarding age verification systems and how children can easily bypass the current safety measures used by multiple social media platforms. ESafety’s survey revealed Reddit did not know how many users between 13 and 17 used its platform.
ICO will consider possible data protection infringements and will take action accordingly. The agency also explained that these investigations are part of their wider commitment to the Children’s Code—also known as the Age-Appropriate Design Code (AADC), which came into force in 2021—to ensure children’s privacy and safety.
“I also want to take this opportunity to assure children, parents, and carers in the UK that we are working on their behalf to make the online world a safer place,” said Edwards.
A few weeks ago, the UK became the first country in the world to ban and punish sexual AI-generated content related to child sexual abuse material.
