Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxi service, gaining traction in China, is fast-tracking expansion abroad with Southeast Asia and Australia as its next targets. Halton Niu, GM of Overseas Business at Baidu’s Intelligent Driving Group, said the company is in talks with governments in Southeast Asia and Australia to explore pilots and service launches. Baidu is also in discussions with regulators in the Middle East and Europe. In Dubai, Apollo Go has already obtained 50 autonomous test permits, expanding its fleet to 100 vehicles.

BOE Technology, a major Apple display panel supplier, has established a wholly owned subsidiary to expand into robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) software. Sina and ICsmart, citing Qichacha data, reported that BOE’s new subsidiary, Beijing BOE Robot, was registered with CNY200 million (approx. US$28 million) in capital to focus on industrial robots and AI software. The company has already assembled a specialized robotics team to drive research, development, and manufacturing.

As the Russia–Ukraine war rages on, another battle of intelligence and counterintelligence is quietly unfolding in the deep sea. The Canadian firm MetOcean is one of only a handful of suppliers offering solutions in this sector with its NiKA underwater acoustic monitoring system, which was recently showcased at the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition (TADTE) 2025. Combining precision detection capabilities with versatile strategic value, NiKA can be used in a wide range of applications from submarine surveillance to subsea cable protection.