36Kr Daily Hot List - 2026-07-18

36Kr Daily Hot List for 2026-07-18. Tech and business news explained simply.

Ofo Goes Silent for 5 Years, Then Posts a Message; Company Still Exists

Ofo, a bike-sharing company that hasn't posted in 5 years, just put out a message, and it turns out the company is still legally alive, meaning people who haven't got their deposits back might still have hope.

Yin Qi at WAIC 2026: When AI agents enter the physical world

A top AI leader talked about how AI programs are now smart enough to work for many hours and move from computer screens into real-world devices like cars and robots, which could make us all much more productive.

Alibaba's 1688 to Launch Open Standard for AI-Powered B2B Trade Interconnection

Alibaba is creating a common set of rules so that different AI systems can buy and sell things directly with each other, which will make business transactions faster and more automated.

AI Apps Are Not Just About Tech, But About Proven Business Results

This means that for AI to be useful in a company, it has to actually solve real problems and show it saves money or makes money, not just look cool.

2026 Top 50 AI and Embodied AI Companies That Investors Care About Most Announced

A list of 50 top AI companies shows that the industry is moving from just having smart technology to actually using it to solve real problems, which matters because investors now want to see proven business results, not just fancy tech.

Zhongke Tianta starts making laser communication devices for satellites, planning 600 units per year

This factory builds laser communicators that let satellites talk to each other faster and clearer, which is needed for new satellite internet networks.

How long has it been since we truly loved something for a long time?

This story is about a little doll named Molly who has been popular for 20 years because she reminds people of their true selves, not pretending to be perfect.

China Unicom and Huawei Launch World's Largest 5G-A Network with Super-Fast Uploads

They made a mobile network that can upload videos and pictures much faster, which helps things like AI glasses and robots work better without delays.

Zhenye New Materials Raises Over 100 Million Yuan in Series A Funding

This company makes a special metal that is stronger, lighter, and cheaper than steel for car parts, which will help cars run quieter, use less fuel, and cost less to build.

Hong Kong PhDs start a robot touch skin company, top investors join in

A new company makes a special skin for robots that lets them feel touch all over their body, which helps robots do jobs safely without dropping things or bumping into people.

Apple and the US Government in Settlement Talks Over Monopoly Lawsuit

Apple is talking to the US government to settle a lawsuit that says Apple unfairly blocks competition and controls its iPhone too tightly, which could force Apple to give users more choices.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's leather jacket sold for $960,000

A famous CEO's old jacket was sold for a huge amount of money, and all the money goes to help people in need.

China speeds up building new energy systems to power AI development

The government is building cleaner power systems so that artificial intelligence, which uses huge amounts of electricity, can run on green energy instead of dirty power.

Indian companies are turning to Chinese AI models to save money

Indian businesses are using Chinese-made AI programs because they're way cheaper, which means India is now depending on China for this important technology.

US Bank Deposits Drop $74 Billion in One Week, Down to $19.36 Trillion

Money people put in banks went down a lot in just one week, which shows the banking system might be shaky and concerns regular folks.