Latest news with #Liang
West Australian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Kylie Liang leads Four Seasons of Buenos Aires for Music on the Terrace at Government House Ballroom
From the louche charms of Piazzolla to Grieg's wholesome Holberg Suite, violinist Kylie Liang led a string soiree for the ages with Music on the Terrace at Government House Ballroom on Sunday. Piazzolla's Four Seasons of Buenos Aires made a challenging entrée for the 10-strong ensemble, its brusque opening chords and raw glissando a grungy reflection on Vivaldi's rural idyll. Harsh bowing ground out the workaday rhythms of Argentina's capital for Liang to soar over the top then hunker down in a slow-burn tango; wringing blistering passion from her violin over pulsing bass and cello. Harmonics in tutti violins offset the sonorous solo, echoed in cello then viola, as Damien Eckersley on bass beat a retreat to the coarser soundscape of the streets; picking up pace with Liang towards a parting parody of Vivaldi's Summer. Autumn dawned with more harsh bowed effects, triggering an intricate cadenza from cellist Jeremy Garside; ruminating on the season of mellow fruitfulness to broach a slow serenade in lower strings. Violins chimed in with crystalline bell tones then raced away with the lead, fading towards a cadenza from Liang almost classical in ambience. Skidding down range, she slowed for another listless dance; morphing to mayhem in jagged phrases and a jump-cut dismount. Winter brought rich harmonies in cello and viola over walking bass, gradually lifting to follow Liang's lead; a skittish cadenza pausing then reverting to tutti play. Sighs of longing flowed from Liang's fingerboard only to ignite a renewed frenzy across the group before fading as quickly to longing again. Just like the fickle weather, if one mood did not suit another came along soon, with drama and romance in equal parts. Another solo cadenza brought on pizzicato bass then a violin-viola duet with James Munro that returned briefly to Vivaldi before throwing to cello and violins to close. Strident fiddling announced the Spring as Liang warmed to the task; drawing in full ensemble for a romp, pause, then a sedate soliloquy. Vivaldi again surfaced in the solo before lilting rhythms summoned the tango genie; first slow, then quickening to a furious beat, with glissando giving way to vigorous bowing fit to shred a rug. Liang unleashed one final scintillating solo, inspiring a last mocking echo of the Baroque and warm applause. After the interval, Puccini's Crisantemi (Chrysanthemums) presented a funereal tribute, swooning and songlike befitting the composer. Tight timing of rubato phrases made a stark contrast to Piazzolla's seeming free-for-all. Lush tone was another point of difference, with Liang and Garside setting a full timbre for others to follow; like a pop ballad though solemn in transition between sections, closing on sacramental chords. Grieg's Holberg Suite was another step change, the Praeludium almost symphonic in texture, with flurries passing around to rest in contemplation then break out again with emotive force. Sarabande, the second stanza, dialled back to an earlier era, elegant and unhurried, the lead passed by one instrument to another like partners in a dance. Gavotte, the middle movement, put more spring in the step; a fresh breath after Piazzolla's bustle and Puccini's passion offering light relief on a dark afternoon, with bucolic and pastoral ornaments. Air, the ear-worm of the piece, lifted the mood again, ethereal in concept and delivery. Limpid clarity in Liang's lead drew reverential respect to match the composer's note, Andante religioso, with devotion in the cadence. Kicking off their shoes, Liang's charges scampered playfully through the finale, Rigaudon (Allegro con brio). Comforting waves of melody and harmony rolled towards a leisurely climax before reprising the opening vigour with bravura in conclusion. An encore of Piazzolla's Oblivion wrapped up the evening's delights, exquisite in solo violin and serene in accompaniment. Pared back to pianissimo, Liang soared to high harmonics over barely-there chords; swooping in mid-range then blissing out in a stratospheric cadence. Music on the Terrace returns to the Ballroom on November 8 and 9 with pianist Jeongwhan Kim.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Chinese woman raised in rescue centre for 9 years attends prestigious graduate school
A young Chinese woman, who grew up at a rescue centre, received an admission letter to a prestigious graduate school, expressing her gratitude to her unique family of social workers. The 23-year-old, known by the nickname Liang, has lived at the Yangpu District rescue centre in Shanghai for nine years. After her father passed away from illness when she was five and her mother went missing, she was placed in the centre. Initially, an elderly couple served as her foster family, but they had to terminate their agreement in 2015 due to personal issues, leading to Liang's return to the rescue centre for children in need. The social workers at the centre treated Liang as if she were their own daughter. However, Liang faced challenges as she lacked a hukou, a residency permit necessary for accessing higher education in Shanghai, because she was born out of wedlock. Liang, now 23, has lived at the Yangpu District rescue centre in Shanghai for nine years, following the death of her father and the disappearance of her mother. Photo: Until recently, children born to unmarried parents were prohibited from being registered with a hukou in China. Li Fuqiang, the former head of the centre, played a crucial role in helping Liang prepare her documents and obtain a hukou, allowing her to enrol in a senior secondary school. The staff in the rescue centre's canteen ensured Liang received nutritious meals, while centre drivers transported her to school, consciously keeping their distance to avoid embarrassing her in front of classmates unaware of her background.
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Cybersecurity demands proactive identity verification to counter AI threats
Cybersecurity is a race to outpace scammers, and secure identity verification must be at the forefront, says Jen Liang, CEO of Australia-based IDMeta Group. During the Cybersecurity Summit 2025 on Friday (July 25), Liang said artificial intelligence reshapes fraud tactics, with deepfakes posing a growing threat, making identity verification the foundation of digital trust. "Fraudsters use AI to manipulate IDs, mimic voices, and create deepfake videos, but we also use AI for fraud detection. Our biometric technology can detect deepfakes not just at onboarding but during live interactions," he said during the panel discussion titled "Digital Trust and Resilience: Strengthening Cyber Confidence in Malaysia." He highlighted cases where people unwittingly engaged with deepfakes on video calls. In 2024, a finance employee at a multinational company in Hong Kong was deceived into transferring $25mil after fraudsters used deepfake technology to impersonate the company's CFO during a video conference call. "It's really concerning. Fake meetings are being set up with deepfakes that are 85% to 95% accurate," he said. Liang said the challenge lies in staying ahead of cybercriminals and adapting faster than they do. "Cybersecurity has always been about staying one step ahead. The difference now is the tools are far more powerful for both sides." He emphasised the importance of scalable, secure identity verification in sectors like fintech and gaming. "Fintech and gaming are typically the spaces we're very much involved in. Verification is critical when onboarding customers securely and ensuring they are who they say they are. It's also key to preventing scams and fraudulent accounts, which is especially important today," he said. Operating in multiple jurisdictions, Liang acknowledged that navigating data privacy laws and compliance is one of the company's greatest challenges. "Every country has its own regulatory framework. In Australia, the privacy act is very strict." He noted that both Australia and Indonesia require in-country data servers, with no allowance for cross-border storage. "The Philippines is moving in that direction too, but they don't yet have the infrastructure to support it. Without local data centres like Google or Amazon Web Services, requiring in-country servers could overwhelm their current systems," he said. Liang added that while regulations are becoming more standardised, such as biometric validation and email screening, enforcement is key. "It's not just about laws being in place. It's about how consistently those laws are enforced." He also acknowledged Malaysia's evolving digital policy landscape. "On this trip, we've had conversations with several stakeholders here. The direction is there, but the execution and development are still maturing. It's something we're keeping a close eye on," he said. In response to a question on educating youth about cyber threats, Liang stressed the need to empower them to navigate digital ecosystems responsibly. "Young people today are far more experiential. They have broad access to information, and they're not afraid to challenge what they're told. We just need to provide them a wider scope of guidance, not control," he said. Other speakers echoed Liang's concerns, particularly around resilience and preparedness in the face of rising threats. Amal Wikramasinghe, Head of Governance Risk and Compliance - Cybersecurity and Data Privacy at Axiata Group, described how the company managed a rare and unforeseen third-party outage that impacted four of its operating companies. He emphasised the need for real-time crisis communication and damage assessment protocols. Zainol Zainuddin, CTO of NTT DATA eCommerce Solutions, warned that infrastructure resilience is only as strong as an organisation's cybersecurity culture. He highlighted how phishing, still the most common entry point for hackers, thrives in organisations where awareness is treated as a checklist, not a mindset. "Even the best technology won't protect you if your people don't know how to spot a phishing email. You have to create a blame-free, transparent culture where mistakes can be reported early," he said. Moderator Jaco Benadie, Partner, Technology Consulting – Cyber at Ernst & Young Consulting Sdn Bhd, summarised that building digital trust requires a proactive, resilient strategy that spans technology, people, and culture, while prioritising user privacy and navigating cross-border regulatory challenges.
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
DeepSeek, Trump's plan steer agenda at China's most important AI summit
Star founders, Beijing officials and deep-pocketed financiers converge on Shanghai by the thousands this weekend to attend China's most important AI summit. At the top of the agenda: how to propel Beijing's ambitions to leapfrog the US in artificial intelligence — and profit off that drive. The World Artificial Intelligence Conference, which has featured Elon Musk and Jack Ma in years past, was devised to showcase the cutting-edge of Chinese technology. This year's attendance may hit a record as it's taking place at a critical juncture in the US-Chinese tech rivalry. This week, US President Donald Trump unveiled his so-called AI Action Plan — a sort of call to arms to ensure the country keeps its lead in the post-ChatGPT epoch. At the same time, the emergence of DeepSeek in January galvanised a generation of Chinese developers to ride a nationwide investment and innovation wave. From Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. to fledgling firms such as Minimax, the country's AI aspirants have since moved aggressively to try and close the gap with the likes of OpenAI and Google. 'While many recognise DeepSeek's achievements, this represents just the beginning of China's AI innovation wave,' said Louis Liang, an AI sector investor with Ameba Capital. 'We are witnessing the advent of AI mass adoption, this goes beyond national competition.' The Shanghai conference rundown for now remains largely unknown — as it has in years past just days before kickoff. Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend, and tech leaders from Tencent Holdings Ltd. to ByteDance Ltd. and startups like Zhipu AI and Moonshot are likely to turn out in force. Here's what we can expect from the summit starting Saturday. DeepSeek's aura Neither the startup nor its reclusive founder Liang Wenfeng feature in the advance literature for the event. And yet, the two-year-old firm is likely to be one of the topics du jour. Since its low-cost, high-performance AI model humbled much of Silicon Valley, the industry has watched China closely for another seismic moment. In a field notorious for splashing billions of dollars on Nvidia Corp. chips and data centers, DeepSeek's no-frills approach inspired a re-think of traditional models. And it challenged what till then was unquestioned US supremacy in bleeding-edge technology: Xi Jinping himself turned out in public in February to congratulate Liang and his fellow tech entrepreneurs. China craves another big breakthrough. Downloads and usage of DeepSeek models have slowed, as has the pace of new model rollouts that peaked over the spring at once every few days. Now, much of the industry talk centers on why DeepSeek's R2 — the followup to its seminal R1 — hasn't yet emerged. Local media have blamed everything from Liang's perfectionist streak to performance glitches. Trump's, and Xi's, ambitions The conference gets underway days after the US leader signed executive orders to loosen regulations and expand energy supplies for data centers. 'From this day forward, it'll be a policy of the United States to do whatever it takes to lead the world in artificial intelligence,' Trump told executives and lawmakers at a DC event. Among the attendees was Jensen Huang, whose Nvidia is one of the companies at the heart of the global AI movement. Much has been made in Washington of China's seemingly meteoric ascent in AI, with observers saying the country is now perhaps just months behind the US in terms of AI sophistication. That's a wafer-thin margin compared with sectors such as semiconductors, where America is regarded as many years or even generations ahead. Trump's newly announced action plan is likely to spur Chinese companies into accelerating their own plans to go global, in part by aggressively open-sourcing their AI platforms. Beijing wants AI to become a $100 billion industry by 2030. At the Communist Party's April Politburo study session, Xi emphasized that China must push for breakthroughs in critical areas like high-end chips and AI research. Rise of the robots Chinese humanoid makers are expected to showcase their most advanced models. Last week, UBTech posted a video of its Walker S2 humanoid walking to a battery station, removing the pack from its back, placing it on the recharge pad before fitting itself with a new battery. While obviously edited and choreographed, it encapsulated the advances that Chinese firms have made in a wide-open field — and their lofty ambitions. Unitree teased a bargain-basement price of under $10,000 for its androids. It joins the likes of AgiBot and UBTech in collectively driving a promising field in which American companies have so far failed to stake out a clear lead, despite decades of effort. The Chinese companies 'are targeting hundreds to thousands of units to be delivered this year, racing to establish the ecosystem,' Morgan Stanley analyst Sheng Wong said in a note this week. Show the money Venture capitalists and deal-makers will be hunting for emerging tech leaders. And not all of them are Chinese. China's largest venture capital houses are tapping the market for at least $2 billion in new funds. At least six of the country's most prominent VC firms — including Lightspeed China Partners and Monolith Management — are creating dollar-denominated funds designed to allow overseas investors to pool bets on Chinese companies. That's a wave of fundraising that hasn't been seen among Chinese VCs for years. It's unfolding as global investors reassess the country's startup landscape and economy, which are showing signs of revival after years of Covid-era stagnation and regulatory headwinds. Organizers promise a breakout event that will feature startup pitches and live demos for dealmakers. Startups by the hundreds are expected to fill a 70,000 sq-meter exhibition hall, showing off everything from autonomous delivery drones to machines that dispense toilet paper. Missing global touch Attendees are unlikely to spot US companies — at least not in major fashion. In 2024, Tesla Inc. popped up with its Cybertruck and Optimus robot. This year's speaker lineup doesn't (yet) include Musk but does list Yoshua Bengio, the Canadian scientist who pioneered artificial neural networks. With the US-China tech rivalry accelerating, many American companies remain wary of drawing the spotlight. Still, Beijing is likely to take the opportunity to continue pushing its international agenda. One of the conference centerpieces is a 'High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance' to discuss the challenges in deploying AI responsibly. To many observers, it's also emblematic of China's overarching goal of setting global standards. 'Since 2018, China has used WAIC to stake its claim on global AI technical and political leadership,' said Tom Nunlist, associate director of the Beijing-based consultancy Trivium. 'With the race to AI now neck and neck between the US and China, that play is more compelling than ever.'
Japan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
DeepSeek, Trump's plan steer agenda at China's premier AI forum
Star founders, Beijing officials and deep-pocketed financiers converge on Shanghai by the thousands this weekend to attend China's most important artificial intelligence summit. At the top of the agenda: how to propel Beijing's ambitions to leapfrog the U.S. in AI — and profit off that drive. The World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), which has featured billionaire entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Jack Ma in years past, was devised to showcase the cutting-edge of Chinese technology. This year's attendance may hit a record as it's taking place at a critical juncture in the U.S.-Chinese tech rivalry. This week, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his so-called AI Action Plan — a sort of call to arms to ensure the country keeps its lead in the post-ChatGPT epoch. At the same time, the emergence of DeepSeek in January galvanized a generation of Chinese developers to ride a nationwide investment and innovation wave. From Alibaba Group Holding to fledgling firms such as Minimax, the country's AI aspirants have since moved aggressively to try and close the gap with the likes of OpenAI and Google. "While many recognize DeepSeek's achievements, this represents just the beginning of China's AI innovation wave,' said Louis Liang, an AI sector investor with Ameba Capital. "We are witnessing the advent of AI mass adoption, this goes beyond national competition.' The Shanghai conference rundown for now remains largely unknown — as it has in years past just days before kickoff. Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend, and tech leaders from Tencent Holdings to ByteDance and startups like Zhipu AI and Moonshot are likely to turn out in force. Here's what we can expect from the summit starting Saturday. DeepSeek's aura Neither the startup nor its reclusive founder Liang Wenfeng feature in the advance literature for the event. And yet, the two-year-old firm is likely to be one of the topics du jour. Since its low-cost, high-performance AI model humbled much of Silicon Valley, the industry has watched China closely for another seismic moment. In a field notorious for splashing billions of dollars on Nvidia chips and data centers, DeepSeek's no-frills approach inspired a rethink of traditional models. And it challenged what till then was unquestioned U.S. supremacy in bleeding-edge technology: Chinese President Xi Jinping himself turned out in public in February to congratulate Liang and his fellow tech entrepreneurs. China craves another big breakthrough. Downloads and usage of DeepSeek models have slowed, as has the pace of new model rollouts that peaked over the spring at once every few days. Now, much of the industry talk centers on why DeepSeek's R2 — the followup to its seminal R1 — hasn't yet emerged. Local media have blamed everything from Liang's perfectionist streak to performance glitches. Trump's — and Xi's — ambitions The conference gets underway days after Trump signed executive orders to loosen regulations and expand energy supply for data centers. "From this day forward, it'll be a policy of the United States to do whatever it takes to lead the world in artificial intelligence,' Trump told executives and lawmakers at an event in Washington. Among the attendees was Jensen Huang, whose Nvidia is one of the companies at the heart of the global AI movement. Huang waves at the "Winning the AI Race" event in Washington on Wednesday. | Getty Images / via Bloomberg Much has been made in Washington of China's seemingly meteoric ascent in AI, with observers saying the country is now perhaps just months behind the U.S. in terms of AI sophistication. That's a wafer-thin margin compared with sectors such as semiconductors, where America is regarded as many years or even generations ahead. Trump's newly announced action plan is likely to spur Chinese companies into accelerating their own plans to go global, in part by aggressively open-sourcing their AI platforms. Beijing wants AI to become a $100 billion industry by 2030. At the Chinese Communist Party's April Politburo study session, Xi emphasized that China must push for breakthroughs in critical areas such as high-end chips and AI research. Rise of the robots Chinese humanoid makers are expected to showcase their most advanced models. Last week, UBTech posted a video of its Walker S2 humanoid walking to a battery station, removing the pack from its back, placing it on the recharge pad before fitting itself with a new battery. While obviously edited and choreographed, it encapsulated the advances that Chinese firms have made in a wide-open field — and their lofty ambitions. Unitree teased a bargain-basement price of under $10,000 for its androids. It joins the likes of AgiBot and UBTech in collectively driving a promising field in which American companies have so far failed to stake out a clear lead, despite decades of effort. The Chinese companies "are targeting hundreds to thousands of units to be delivered this year, racing to establish the ecosystem,' Morgan Stanley analyst Sheng Wong said in a note this week. Show the money Venture capitalists and dealmakers will be hunting for emerging tech leaders. And not all of them are Chinese. China's largest venture capital houses are tapping the market for at least $2 billion in new funds. At least six of the country's most prominent VC firms — including Lightspeed China Partners and Monolith Management — are creating dollar-denominated funds designed to allow overseas investors to pool bets on Chinese companies. That's a wave of fundraising that hasn't been seen among Chinese VCs for years. It's unfolding as global investors reassess the country's startup landscape and economy, which are showing signs of revival after years of COVID-era stagnation and regulatory headwinds. Organizers promise a breakout event that will feature startup pitches and live demos for dealmakers. Startups by the hundreds are expected to fill a 70,000-square-meter exhibition hall, showing off everything from autonomous delivery drones to machines that dispense toilet paper. Missing global touch Attendees are unlikely to spot U.S. companies — at least not in major fashion. In 2024, Tesla popped up with its Cybertruck and Optimus robot. This year's speaker lineup doesn't (yet) include Musk but does list Yoshua Bengio, the Canadian scientist who pioneered artificial neural networks. With the U.S.-China tech rivalry accelerating, many American companies remain wary of drawing the spotlight. Still, Beijing is likely to take the opportunity to continue pushing its international agenda. One of the conference centerpieces is a "High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance' to discuss the challenges in deploying AI responsibly. To many observers, it's also emblematic of China's overarching goal of setting global standards. "Since 2018, China has used WAIC to stake its claim on global AI technical and political leadership,' said Tom Nunlist, associate director of the Beijing-based consultancy Trivium. "With the race to AI now neck and neck between the U.S. and China, that play is more compelling than ever.'
