Latest news with #Chinese-developed
Business Wire
17-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
1 in 12 Employees Use at Least One Chinese GenAI Tool at Work Reveals New Analysis of 14,000 End Users
LONDON & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Harmonic Security has today released new research revealing widespread use of Chinese-developed generative AI (GenAI) applications within the workplace. The behavioral analysis, conducted over 30 days across a sample of approximately 14,000 end users in the United States and United Kingdom finds that 7.95%, or nearly one in 12 employees used at least one Chinese GenAI tool. Among the 1,059 users who engaged with Chinese GenAI tools, Harmonic Security detected 535 incidents of sensitive data exposure. The majority of exposure occurred via DeepSeek, which accounted for roughly 85% of the total, followed by Moonshot Kimi, Qwen, Baidu Chat and Manus. In terms of what sensitive data was exposed, code and development artifacts represented the largest category, making up 32.8% of the total. This included proprietary code, access keys, and internal logic. This was followed by mergers & acquisitions data (18.2%), personally identifiable information (PII) (17.8%), financial information (14.4%), customer data (12.0%), and legal documents (4.9%). Engineering-heavy organizations were found to be particularly exposed, as developers increasingly turn to GenAI for coding assistance, potentially without realizing the implications of submitting internal source code, API keys, or system architecture into foreign-hosted models. Alastair Paterson, CEO and co-founder Harmonic Security comments: 'All data submitted to these platforms should be considered property of the Chinese Communist Party given a total lack of transparency around data retention, input reuse, and model training policies, exposing organizations to potentially serious legal and compliance liabilities. But these apps are extremely powerful with many outperforming their US counterparts, depending on the task. This is why employees will continue to use them but they're effectively blind spots for most enterprise security teams.' Paterson continues: 'Blocking alone is rarely effective and often misaligned with business priorities. Even in companies willing to take a hardline stance, users frequently circumvent controls. A more effective approach is to focus on education and train employees on the risks of using unsanctioned GenAI tools, especially Chinese-hosted platforms. We also recommend providing alternatives via approved GenAI tools that meet developer and business needs. Finally, enforce policies that prevent sensitive data, particularly source code, from being uploaded to unauthorized apps. Organizations that avoid blanket blocking and instead implement light-touch guardrails and nudges see up to a 72% reduction in sensitive data exposure, while increasing AI adoption by as much as 300%." The data for this analysis was collected using insights from Harmonic Security Protect, which monitors user behavior around SaaS-based GenAI apps. All data was anonymized and sanitized prior to analysis. The dataset included file upload volumes, app usage frequency, and prompt-level detections of sensitive content exposure. To read the full report, please go to: About Harmonic Harmonic Security lets your teams adopt AI tools safely by protecting sensitive data in real time with minimal effort. It gives you full control and stops leaks so your teams can innovate confidently. For more information, visit
Mint
16-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Lilly's Zepbound faces a potential weight-loss rival. It's made by a Chinese biotech
A new late stage trial of a promising weight loss drug is one more sign of the impending disruption the booming Chinese biotech industry could bring to US biopharma. A Chinese-developed weight loss shot looked almost as good as Eli Lilly's megablockbuster Zepbound in late-stage trial results rolled out Tuesday morning, in one more sign of the impending disruption that the booming Chinese biotech industry could bring to U.S. biopharma. The Jiangsu, China-based company Hengrui Pharma and its privately held U.S. partner Kailera Therapeutics said early Tuesday that patients lost an average of 18% of their weight over 48 weeks on Hengrui's drug, HRS9531. Using a statistical measure that only takes into account patients who completed the trial, their average weight loss was 19%. That's still not quite as good as Zepbound, which led to 21% weight loss in a late-stage trial. But the Zepbound trial was longer, and Hengrui and Kailera say that patients were still losing weight when the Hengrui trial ended. What's more, the latest Hengrui trial didn't study HRS9531 at its highest dose level. Hengrui plans to seek regulatory approval for the shot in China only 'as soon as possible" based on the new results. The drug won't pose a threat to Lilly anytime soon, if ever. But Kailera, the U.S. company that licensed the rights to HRS9531 outside of China, thinks they may be able to show it works better than Zepbound in their own trials, which have yet to start, and which are aimed at getting global approvals for the drug. 'Today's treatments are pretty much capped at about 20%" weight loss, said Kailera's chief commercial officer, Jamie Coleman, in an interview Tuesday with Barron's. 'Our goal is to maximize that efficacy, go beyond that." Even if Kailera eventually does show that HRS9531 can help patients lose more weight than Zepbound, the drug is years from U.S. approval, and would likely launch later than retatrutide, a follow-up medicine from Lilly that already works better than Zepbound. Lilly's hold on the weight loss market seems secure at least until the end of the decade, if not longer. Still, the promising data on HRS9531 is a hint at the challenges that Chinese biotech is increasingly posing for U.S. biopharma. As Barron's reported in June, U.S. drugmakers have spent tens of billions of dollars in recent months acquiring rights to experimental medicines invented by Chinese companies, in a sign of the growing quality and efficiency of the Chinese biotech sector. HRS9531 is one of a big group of Chinese-developed weight loss assets licensed by U.S. companies. Merck licensed an oral GLP-1 for $112 million up front in December of last year from Hansoh Pharma, and Regeneron licensed a GLP-1/GIP from the same company in June for $80 million up front. AstraZeneca, Lilly, and Novo Nordisk also have similar deals with other companies. It all adds complexity for investors trying to forecast the shape of the obesity market over the long term. And it's a potential threat to the U.S. biotech ecosystem, which relies on big pharma cash going to U.S. biotechs to fund development of new drugs. HRS9531, which Kailera calls KAI-9531, is very similar to Lilly's Zepbound: Both are dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists, and both are injectable peptides. In an earlier trial, also conducted by Hengrui, patients on a higher dose of HRS9531 lost 22.8% of their weight after 36 weeks. 'Generally speaking, what we've seen out of China so far, this data looks very similar to tirzepatide," said Coleman, using Zepbound's chemical name. 'We can go to higher doses without trading off tolerability, and we'll study it longer." Though the latest study was a Phase 3 trial, it only enrolled 567 patients, far fewer than would be needed in a U.S. Phase 3. Kailera launched in October with $400 million in private funding. It owns the rights outside of China to four Hengrui drugs including HRS9531. The question for Kailera is what the market would be for a drug that may be similar or a bit better than Zepbound, and how the biotech could ramp up manufacturing. Making significant quantities of the drug has been a challenge for Lilly, which has invested many billions of dollars in expanding its manufacturing capacity. Coleman, who was vice president, U.S. brand leader for Zepbound at Lilly before coming to Kailera, said that Kailera is already talking to contract manufacturers, and that more contract manufacturing capacity is available because Lilly and its competitor Novo Nordisk have brought much of their manufacturing in-house. 'We intend to focus and compete where weight loss matters the most, and where there are unmet needs in the market," Coleman said. 'There's a high level of unmet need in people that need to lose more than what tirzepatide today is providing. And there are very few molecules that are really set up to deliver higher efficacy, especially with a mechanism that is well-known, well-understood, and a tolerability profile that's pretty well accepted." Write to Josh Nathan-Kazis at
The Star
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
From toys to milk tea, Chinese brands widen market share in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese brands continue to widen their share of the consumer market in Malaysia, with strong and growing demand for a range of products from milk tea to designer toys. Just a brief walk around the capital Kuala Lumpur, one can easily spot outlets of China's beverage giant Mixue, milk tea chain CHAGEE, and Luckin Coffee -- a leading Chinese coffee brand. Cherishing food and beverages, Malaysians have flocked to these chains and flooded local social media channels with glowing reviews. Meanwhile, other items, such as Pop Mart -- a popular Chinese toy company known for its blind box collectibles, particularly the Labubu character -- are also rapidly gaining ground. Besides the ubiquitous presence of Chinese-developed smartphones and other consumer electronics, these collectibles have become a global sensation, highlighting the strong competitiveness of Chinese-developed intellectual property (IP) in the open market, while also showcasing culture and creativity. A GROWING CULTURAL PHENOMENON At Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, a major shopping center in the bustling tourist district in Bukit Bintang, signs indicate that the latest Labubu figurines are completely sold out, highlighting the surging popularity of Chinese cultural products in Malaysia and the enthusiasm they're generating among local youth. Among those visiting was Chong Man Hen, who had come especially to Kuala Lumpur to visit the store as he is an enthusiastic collector of figurines that combine traditional designs with a modern look. "I tend to collect products with traditional Chinese-style designs," he told Xinhua. "What makes these Chinese designer toys special is that they help bridge the gap between us and traditional Chinese aesthetics -- it gives a quick idea of what the character is about. Plus, being mini figures, they're especially appealing to me." "People around the world can be exposed to Chinese history and culture through (these products), and it's an easy way to understand more. When brands come in, like the traditional-style CHAGEE, I'm happy to try their products and it's nice that we don't have to go all the way to China to experience them. We can enjoy the same things here in Malaysia," he said. Inside a nearby CHAGEE outlet, a group of young girls were placing drink orders on their phones, while unboxing blind boxes from Pop Mart. Their anticipation of finding a rare edition spoke volumes about the emotional connection these collectibles have sparked. Scenes like this -- pairing Chinese-style beverages with trendy cultural goods -- have become increasingly common across Kuala Lumpur. UNIQUE PRODUCTS WITH A WIDE APPEAL These cultural products are also contributing to the local economy, drawing interest not just from Malaysians but also international visitors. Esther Yong, a university student and avid collector, noted that people from countries without access to Pop Mart are now traveling to Malaysia just to get their hands on the figurines. "I think (Chinese products) help Malaysia's economy," she said. "I've seen quite a few foreigners come to Malaysia to buy Pop Mart (products) -- some even take entire boxes home. I think it's beneficial for the economy." Esther also suggested that the retailer expand its product line to appeal to the interests of collectors like herself. "Chinese cultural elements are definitely a plus point for me ... Personally, I really like ancient Chinese elements, like the traditional costumes in Empresses in the Palace. If a series with that kind of style were released, I'd love it," she said. Meanwhile, Sharon Mendoza, a tourist from Mexico, said that she had first encountered the figurines in Pop Mart while visiting China and has kept an eye out for them on her subsequent travels. "There is no such brand in Mexico ... If there was a Pop Mart store, I would visit there like every weekend," she said with a laugh. "Everywhere I know there is a Pop Mart store, I would like to go, because I like to gift these toys to my family and my friends." The rise of Chinese brands in Malaysia is more than a commercial trend, but part of a broader cultural shift. Whether through designer toys, food and beverage chains, or cinematic experiences like animated films, China's creative industries are finding resonance among global audiences. "We're seeing the growing power of Chinese IPs," said a local cultural analyst. "More importantly, we're seeing how Chinese culture is being reimagined, localized, and embraced by new audiences around the world." - China Daily/ANN
Canada News.Net
01-07-2025
- Business
- Canada News.Net
German regulator urges DeepSeek app takedown on privacy grounds
FRANKFURT, Germany: Germany has become the latest country to challenge Chinese AI firm DeepSeek over its data practices, as pressure mounts across Europe and the United States over how the company handles personal information. This week, German data protection commissioner Meike Kamp formally asked Apple and Google to remove DeepSeek's app from their respective app stores in the country. The reason: concerns that user data is being transferred to China without adequate safeguards. "DeepSeek has not been able to provide my agency with convincing evidence that German users' data is protected in China to a level equivalent to that in the European Union," Kamp said in a statement. "Chinese authorities have far-reaching access rights to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies." Kamp said she had asked the company in May to comply with EU data transfer requirements or withdraw its app voluntarily. Since DeepSeek failed to act, her office moved forward with the request to block it. Google confirmed it had received the notice and was reviewing the request. Apple did not immediately respond. DeepSeek also declined to comment. According to its own privacy policy, DeepSeek stores users' personal data — including uploaded files and AI interactions — on servers located in China. DeepSeek made headlines earlier this year with claims that its AI model could rival tools like ChatGPT at a significantly lower cost. However, the company has since come under scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions. Italy was the first EU country to block DeepSeek's app, citing insufficient transparency around data handling. The Netherlands banned it on government devices. Belgium has issued an advisory against its use by officials, while Spain's consumer group OCU has asked its national data agency to investigate. In the UK, the government has taken a hands-off approach so far. A spokesperson for the technology ministry said, "The use of DeepSeek remains a personal choice for members of the public," but added, "If evidence of threats arises, we will not hesitate to take the appropriate steps to protect our national security." In the U.S., lawmakers are preparing legislation to ban executive agencies from using any Chinese-developed AI tools. Meanwhile, Reuters reported this week that DeepSeek is also supporting China's military and intelligence activities, raising further alarms in Western capitals.
Malaysia Sun
01-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
From toys to milk tea, Chinese brands widen market share in Malaysia
Chinese brands like Mixue, CHAGEE, Luckin Coffee, and Pop Mart -- known for its blind box collectibles -- are captivating global markets, showcasing the power of China's homegrown IP through cultural innovation and technological agility. by Jonathan Edward, Wang Jiawei, Cheng Yiheng KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese brands continue to widen their share of the consumer market in Malaysia, with strong and growing demand for a range of products from milk tea to designer toys. Just a brief walk around the capital Kuala Lumpur, one can easily spot outlets of China's beverage giant Mixue, milk tea chain CHAGEE, and Luckin Coffee -- a leading Chinese coffee brand. Cherishing food and beverages, Malaysians have flocked to these chains and flooded local social media channels with glowing reviews. Meanwhile, other items, such as Pop Mart -- a popular Chinese toy company known for its blind box collectibles, particularly the Labubu character -- are also rapidly gaining ground. Besides the ubiquitous presence of Chinese-developed smartphones and other consumer electronics, these collectibles have become a global sensation, highlighting the strong competitiveness of Chinese-developed intellectual property (IP) in the open market, while also showcasing culture and creativity. A GROWING CULTURAL PHENOMENON At Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, a major shopping center in the bustling tourist district in Bukit Bintang, signs indicate that the latest Labubu figurines are completely sold out, highlighting the surging popularity of Chinese cultural products in Malaysia and the enthusiasm they're generating among local youth. Among those visiting was Chong Man Hen, who had come especially to Kuala Lumpur to visit the store as he is an enthusiastic collector of figurines that combine traditional designs with a modern look. "I tend to collect products with traditional Chinese-style designs," he told Xinhua. "What makes these Chinese designer toys special is that they help bridge the gap between us and traditional Chinese aesthetics -- it gives a quick idea of what the character is about. Plus, being mini figures, they're especially appealing to me." "People around the world can be exposed to Chinese history and culture through (these products), and it's an easy way to understand more. When brands come in, like the traditional-style CHAGEE, I'm happy to try their products and it's nice that we don't have to go all the way to China to experience them. We can enjoy the same things here in Malaysia," he said. Inside a nearby CHAGEE outlet, a group of young girls were placing drink orders on their phones, while unboxing blind boxes from Pop Mart. Their anticipation of finding a rare edition spoke volumes about the emotional connection these collectibles have sparked. Scenes like this -- pairing Chinese-style beverages with trendy cultural goods -- have become increasingly common across Kuala Lumpur. UNIQUE PRODUCTS WITH A WIDE APPEAL These cultural products are also contributing to the local economy, drawing interest not just from Malaysians but also international visitors. Esther Yong, a university student and avid collector, noted that people from countries without access to Pop Mart are now traveling to Malaysia just to get their hands on the figurines. "I think (Chinese products) help Malaysia's economy," she said. "I've seen quite a few foreigners come to Malaysia to buy Pop Mart (products) -- some even take entire boxes home. I think it's beneficial for the economy." Esther also suggested that the retailer expand its product line to appeal to the interests of collectors like herself. "Chinese cultural elements are definitely a plus point for me ... Personally, I really like ancient Chinese elements, like the traditional costumes in Empresses in the Palace. If a series with that kind of style were released, I'd love it," she said. Meanwhile, Sharon Mendoza, a tourist from Mexico, said that she had first encountered the figurines in Pop Mart while visiting China and has kept an eye out for them on her subsequent travels. "There is no such brand in Mexico ... If there was a Pop Mart store, I would visit there like every weekend," she said with a laugh. "Everywhere I know there is a Pop Mart store, I would like to go, because I like to gift these toys to my family and my friends." The rise of Chinese brands in Malaysia is more than a commercial trend, but part of a broader cultural shift. Whether through designer toys, food and beverage chains, or cinematic experiences like animated films, China's creative industries are finding resonance among global audiences. "We're seeing the growing power of Chinese IPs," said a local cultural analyst. "More importantly, we're seeing how Chinese culture is being reimagined, localized, and embraced by new audiences around the world."
