China Media and Entertainment Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 36 Week of 3 February 2025
(1) Is DeepSeek’s AI ‘distillation’ theft? OpenAI seeks answers over China’s breakthrough
Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek is accused of unauthorized data theft through “distillation” to train its models, prompting investigations by OpenAI and Microsoft amid concerns over intellectual property and national security.
(2) Tech war: Huawei cloud unit powers DeepSeek models in China’s bid for AI autonomy
Huawei’s cloud unit teamed up with Beijing-based AI infrastructure start-up SiliconFlow to make DeepSeek AI models available to end users.
(3) ByteDance’s new AI model goes viral for its deepfake capabilities that animate photos
ByteDance has introduced the AI model OmniHuman-1, which creates realistic videos from photos and sound bites, highlighting China’s advancements in AI video generation despite international challenges.
(4) The 2025 Chinese New Year box office has set a new record in Chinese film history
As of 4th February 2025, the total box office revenue for the 2025 Chinese New Year period reached 9.439 billion yuan, making it the strongest Chinese New Year box office season in history.
(5) TikTok’s parent company quietly launched a music licensing platform called EasyOde
ByteDance has launched Easy Ode, a music licensing platform designed to provide high-quality tracks and sound effects for media projects, aiming to expand its influence in the global music licensing market.
(6) Shu Qi, Lee Sinje Lead Netflix’s 2025 Chinese-Language Slate
Netflix’s 2025 Chinese-language lineup features five diverse series, highlighting the company’s commitment to local content with universal appeal.
(7) Chinese netizens use DeepSeek to copy Barbie Hsu’s style in mourning letters
Chinese netizens are using the AI chatbot DeepSeek to create personalized farewell letters mimicking the style of the late Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, which get over 3 million views on social media.
(8) Asian Winter Games: Olympic champions carry torch, Hong Kong ice hockey teams in action
Hong Kong’s men and women get their ice hockey tournaments under way with varying degrees of success in Asian Winer Games in Harbin, China.
(9) Jisoo of Blackpink to visit Hong Kong, Macau, Manila and more on fan meet tour
Jisoo to release mini-album Amortage on 14 February and follow it up with fan meet events in Seoul and multiple Asian cities.
(10) Hong Kong punters bet HK$1.94 billion on first race day in Year of the Snake
Crowd of nearly 86,000 punters flocked to Hong Kong’s Sha Tin Racecourse on the third day of the Lunar New Year, with over HK$100 million wagered on the first race alone.
(1) Is DeepSeek’s AI ‘distillation’ theft? OpenAI seeks answers over China’s breakthrough
(Photo Credit: Reuters)
Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek, known for its cost-effective models, has been accused of data theft through a practice called “distillation,” which involves training smaller models to mimic larger ones like OpenAI’s GPT. OpenAI and Microsoft are investigating whether DeepSeek used an API to extract data from GPT models to train its open-source V3 and R1 models, according to reports from the Financial Times and Bloomberg. While distillation is a common industry practice for scaling down models, OpenAI alleges that DeepSeek used this method in an unauthorized manner, though DeepSeek has not admitted to doing so. Experts note that while distillation often violates terms of service, it is widely used, raising questions about the sincerity of Big Tech’s accusations.
Distillation, a technique likened to a “student” model learning from a “teacher” model, has been around for years and is valued for enabling smaller models to deliver competitive performance on limited hardware. DeepSeek has utilized other open-source models like Meta’s Llama and Alibaba’s Qwen, but OpenAI claims it also accessed GPT models improperly. Industry analysts suggest that distillation is likely widespread, with many models converging on GPT-4-level quality, making it unsurprising if DeepSeek employed such methods. However, proving these allegations is challenging, as distillation can be easily disguised.
DeepSeek’s rise has caught the attention of Washington, with concerns over national security implications and the potential for Chinese AI advancements to outpace US efforts. Venture capitalist David Sacks, appointed by former President Donald Trump as an AI advisor, highlighted “substantial evidence” of DeepSeek’s use of distillation and predicted that US companies would take steps to prevent such practices. As AI integration into devices grows, the ability to run efficient, smaller models locally becomes increasingly important, further fueling the debate over intellectual property and the ethical use of AI training methods.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3296827/deepseeks-ai-distillation-theft-openai-seeks-answers-over-chinas-breakthrough?module=Science&pgtype=section
(2) Tech war: Huawei cloud unit powers DeepSeek models in China’s bid for AI autonomy
(Photo Credit: Reuters)
Huawei Technologies’ cloud-computing unit collaborated with Beijing-based AI infrastructure start-up SiliconFlow during the Lunar New Year holidays to make DeepSeek’s AI models available on its platform efficiently and affordably. They launched DeepSeek’s large language model V3 and reasoning model R1 on Huawei’s Ascend cloud service, with performance comparable to global premium GPUs. SiliconFlow offers discounted access to these models, with V3 priced at 1 yuan for 1 million input tokens and 2 yuan for 1 million output tokens, while R1 costs 4 yuan and 16 yuan, respectively.
This collaboration comes as DeepSeek’s open-source models gain popularity in both China and the US. Microsoft recently launched support for R1 on its Azure cloud-computing platform and GitHub, allowing clients to build AI applications locally on Copilot+ personal computers. Amazon has also enabled developers to use the R1 model through Amazon Web Services. Huawei’s Ascend cloud service utilizes its home-grown Ascend solution for compute resources, highlighting China’s progress in reducing dependency on foreign technology amid US efforts to restrict China’s access to high-end chips.
The launch of DeepSeek’s models on Huawei’s platform underscores China’s advancements in the AI industry. Hangzhou-based DeepSeek has gained attention for developing AI models at a fraction of the cost of its larger US competitors. SiliconFlow, which also provides access to models like Meta’s Llama and Alibaba’s Qwen, praised DeepSeek’s models as a significant contribution to humanity. Tencent has also adopted DeepSeek’s R1 model on its cloud-computing platform, promoting an easy three-minute setup process.
(3) ByteDance’s new AI model goes viral for its deepfake capabilities that animate photos
(Photo Credit: Youtuber “AI Anytime”)
ByteDance, the tech giant behind TikTok, has introduced an AI model called OmniHuman-1 that can transform photos and sound bites into realistic videos, showcasing China’s growing capabilities in AI. The model can create vivid videos of people speaking, singing, and moving, significantly outperforming existing methods. Although OmniHuman-1 has not been released to the public yet, sample clips have gone viral, including a notable demo of Albert Einstein delivering a speech, which has been praised for its realism.
The launch of OmniHuman-1 highlights the advancements Chinese developers are making despite efforts by Washington to curb the country’s AI progress. ByteDance researchers detailed a novel training strategy in a recent paper, combining diverse data sets of text, audio, and movement to build more advanced video-generation models. This approach allows for the creation of realistic videos with varying aspect ratios and body proportions, featuring detailed facial expressions and natural movements, potentially unlocking broader real-world applications.
Chinese tech firms have been making significant strides in video generation, with ByteDance leading the pack through its Jimeng AI platform. The platform’s flagship video models, PixelDance and Seaweed, have received regular updates, enhancing their capabilities. Other companies, including Kuaishou Technology and AI start-ups like Zhipu AI and Shengshu Tech, are also competing in this space. The success of these models underscores China’s progress in AI and its potential for global market expansion.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3297500/bytedances-new-ai-model-goes-viral-its-deepfake-capabilities-animate-photos?module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article
(4) The 2025 Chinese New Year box office has set a new record in Chinese film history
(Photo Credit: Xinhua News Agency)
According to data from Lighthouse Professional Edition, the 2025 Chinese New Year box office has set a new record in Chinese film history, with total earnings surpassing 9.439 billion yuan as of 4th February 2025. Unlike previous years’ “one dominant, many strong” pattern, this year’s box office saw a standout performance from “Ne zha: The Devil Child Strikes the Sea (哪吒之魔童闹海)” (referred to as “Ne zha 2”), which alone accounted for over 70% of the total earnings, reaching 4.788 billion yuan in just seven days. Predictions suggest that “Ne zha 2” could surpass 7.2 billion yuan, potentially becoming the highest-grossing film in Chinese history and the global single-market box office champion.
The 2025 Chinese New Year box office featured six films, including “Operation Dragon(长津湖),” “The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero (射雕英雄传：侠之大者),” “Fengshen Part II: The Battle of Xiqi (封神第二部：战火西岐),” “Boonie Bears: Reboot the Future (熊出没·重启未来),” “Detective Chinatown 1900 (唐探1900),” and “Ne zha 2.” “Ne zha 2” emerged as the undisputed box office king. In addition, “The Battle of Xiqi,” the second installment of the “Fengshen (封神)” series, co-produced by Beijing Alibaba Pictures Co., Ltd. and other companies, ranked third in the Chinese New Year box office.
The success of “Ne zha 2” and the overall strong performance of the Chinese New Year box office have bolstered confidence in the film industry. Experts believe that the trends observed this year, such as the concentration of top-performing films, improved content quality, and the exploration of niche markets, will have a lasting impact on future film production and distribution. Additionally, the international pre-sales of “Ne zha 2” indicate a growing interest in Chinese films and the potential for global market expansion.
News Source: http://www.news.cn/finance/20250205/06d89f1e99ff49c49246a177c986b140/c.html
(5) TikTok’s parent company quietly launched a music licensing platform called EasyOde
(Photo Credit: Easy Ode)
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has quietly launched a music licensing platform called Easy Ode. This platform is described as a “one-stop rights-cleared music platform” and aims to provide high-quality tracks and sound effects for various media projects. Easy Ode allows users to upload videos and receive music recommendations from its library, as well as offering a music customization service with multiple style and duration options.
The platform’s launch highlights ByteDance’s efforts to shake up the global music licensing market. According to US Copyright Office filings, ByteDance has registered trademarks for Easy Ode through its affiliate, Lemon Inc. The service offers downloadable mobile applications that allow users to license, purchase, play, share, download, compose, record, upload, and edit music. Easy Ode’s terms of service emphasize respect for intellectual property rights and require users to ensure that the content they upload is legally licensed.
Easy Ode’s introduction comes as music licensing platforms for short-form video, advertising, games, and other visual media continue to attract significant attention from investors. ByteDance’s move into this space is seen as a strategic effort to expand its influence in the music industry, leveraging its existing strengths and resources to provide a comprehensive music licensing solution.
(6) Shu Qi, Lee Sinje Lead Netflix’s 2025 Chinese-Language Slate
(Photo credit: Netflix)
Netflix has unveiled its 2025 Chinese-language lineup, featuring five series headlined by major stars such as Shu Qi and Lee Sinje. The lineup includes a variety of genres, from supernatural thrillers to romantic comedies. Notable series include “The Resurrected,” a dark thriller about two mothers resurrecting a scam ring leader to avenge their kidnapped daughters, and “Had I Not Seen the Sun,” a supernatural mystery involving a documentarian and a serial killer.
Other series in the lineup are “Perfect Match,” a period drama set in the Northern Song Dynasty, and “I Am Married…But!,” a romantic comedy exploring modern marriage complexities. “Forget You Not,” created by award-winning Rene Liu, follows an aspiring stand-up comedian juggling career ambitions, divorce, and caring for an aging father. These series reflect Netflix’s commitment to developing local content with universal appeal, supported by its network of offices across the Asia-Pacific region.
Minyoung Kim, VP of Netflix content (APAC, ex-India), emphasized the significant fan base for Chinese-language content and the company’s strategy to cater to this audience. The new slate showcases Netflix’s efforts to produce high-quality, diverse programming that resonates with viewers both locally and globally.
News Source: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/shu-qi-lee-sinje-netflix-2025-chinese-slate-1236297844/
(7) Chinese netizens use DeepSeek to copy Barbie Hsu’s style in mourning letters
(Photo Credit: Weibo)
Chinese netizens have used the new AI chatbot DeepSeek to mimic the style of Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu in farewell letters to mourn her passing. Hsu, who rose to fame in the Taiwanese TV drama “Meteor Garden,” died at the age of 48 from pneumonia after contracting the flu while traveling in Japan. Her younger sister expressed gratitude for their shared moments of love and companionship.
The AI-generated condolence messages have garnered over 3 million views on social media, reflecting the widespread impact of Hsu’s death. DeepSeek’s ability to replicate Hsu’s writing style has allowed fans to express their grief in a personalized manner. This use of AI highlights the evolving ways in which technology is being integrated into personal and emotional aspects of life.
Hsu’s career spanned several decades, and she was well-loved for her roles in various TV dramas and films. Her passing has prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and celebrities alike, demonstrating her lasting influence on the entertainment industry.
(8) Asian Winter Games: Olympic champions carry torch, Hong Kong ice hockey teams in action
(Photo Credit: SF&OC)
The 2025 Asian Winter Games are set to officially open in Harbin, China with Olympic champions participating in the torch relay and the ice hockey competition starting indoors. Hong Kong’s men’s ice hockey team had a strong start, defeating Macau 26-1, with forward Maxwell Tong Wai-hin scoring seven goals and providing four assists. However, the women’s team faced a tough challenge, losing 12-0 to Kazakhstan in their first game.
In other matches, Kyrgyzstan narrowly beat Kuwait 9-8, and Singapore dominated Bahrain with a 20-1 victory. The Hong Kong women’s team, competing in Group B, saw their rivals Thailand and Chinese Taipei battle it out, with Chinese Taipei winning 4-1. The mixed results for Hong Kong’s teams highlight the competitive nature of the Games.
The 2025 Asian Winter Games are expected to draw significant attention, showcasing both world-class athletes and newcomers from diverse regions. The focus on Hong Kong’s performance in the Asian Winter Games underscores Hong Kong’s growing involvement in winter sports and its athletes’ determination to compete on an international stage.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3297221/asian-winter-games-olympic-champions-carry-torch-hong-kong-ice-hockey-teams-action?module=AI_Recommended_for_you_In-house&pgtype=section
(9) Jisoo of Blackpink to visit Hong Kong, Macau, Manila and more on fan meet tour
(Photo Credit: Instagram/jisoonews)
BLACKPINK’s Jisoo is set to embark on a solo fan meeting tour across Asia following the release of her new album, “AMORTAGE,” on 14 February. Her agency, BLISSOO, announced that Jisoo will kick off promotions with a special fan meet event, “SOO IN LOVE,” at CGV Cheongdam CineCity in Seoul’s Gangnam District, coinciding with the album’s release date. The event will then expand into an Asia tour titled “LIGHTS, LOVE, ACTION!” visiting seven cities: Manila, Bangkok, Tokyo, Macau, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Hanoi.
This tour marks Jisoo’s first solo Asia tour since she debuted as a member of BLACKPINK under YG Entertainment in 2016. Her new EP, “AMORTAGE,” is her first release in two years since her solo debut EP “ME.” The album’s title combines “amor,” the French word for love, and “montage,” a film editing technique, symbolizing a unique storytelling approach. The tracklist includes four new songs: “Earthquake,” “Your Love,” “TEARS,” and “Hugs & Kisses,” with Jisoo contributing to the songwriting process.
BLISSOO also mentioned that the upcoming tour will feature cinematic elements reflecting the concept of “AMORTAGE.” While detailed schedules for the “LIGHTS, LOVE, ACTION!” tour have yet to be announced, further updates will be provided soon.
(10) Hong Kong punters bet HK$1.94 billion on first race day in Year of the Snake
(Photo Credit: Dickson Lee)
Tens of thousands of punters flocked to Hong Kong’s Sha Tin Racecourse on the third day of the Lunar New Year to try their luck in the Year of the Snake. The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chinese New Year Raceday featured an 11-race program, with more than HK$100 million (US$12.8 million) wagered on the first race alone. The event drew a crowd of 63,000 by 2:30 PM, with finance chief Paul Chan Mo-po and culture minister Rosanna Law Shuk-pui officiating the opening ceremony.
The racecourse was bustling with activities, including lion dances, lucky tips from feng shui master Mak Ling Ling, and a musical performance by singer-songwriter Hins Cheung King-hin. Enthusiastic bettors, like retiree Wong Kwong-king, placed significant bets, hoping for good fortune in the new year. The festive atmosphere was enhanced by traditional performances and the excitement of the races.
The strong turnout and high betting volume highlight the enduring popularity of horse racing in Hong Kong, especially during the Lunar New Year celebrations. The event not only provided entertainment but also showcased the cultural significance of horse racing in the city.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3296947/punters-flock-horse-racing-hong-kong-try-luck-year-snake?module=AI_Recommended_for_you_In-house&pgtype=section
