8:00am, 1st Krypton | Lei Jun responds to "fine print marketing": It's indeed a common bad practice in the industry; Unitree Technology: It is not involved in matters related to applying for a "green channel", and the listing work is progressing normally; Romoss initiates a restructuring plan.
Today's Hotspot Guide
- Yann LeCun Talks About the Reason for Leaving Meta
- "iMoutai" Sold Out Instantly for Four Consecutive Days, and Moutai's Wholesale Price Fell Below 1,499 Yuan Again
- Burger King Says It's in Emergency Repair
- Lei Jun Says Xiaomi's Wheel Falling Off Is a Sacrifice to Save the Car
- Apple Responds to the Alleged Gray Test Launch of Its AI
TOP 3 Big News
Lei Jun Responds to Fine - Print Marketing: Accepts Criticism, Fine Print is Indeed an Industry Bad Habit
On the evening of January 3rd, Lei Jun, the chairman of Xiaomi Group, held his first live - stream in 2026. During this live - stream, he responded to the issue of fine - print marketing.
Lei Jun said during the live - stream that "fine - print marketing" is an industry bad habit, and Xiaomi will start to make changes right away. "I think this problem really needs to be fixed. However, if some compliance practices are labeled as false marketing or excessive marketing, it is a huge misunderstanding of Xiaomi."
Xu Jieyun, the special assistant to the chairman of Xiaomi Group and the deputy general manager of the Strategic Marketing Department, said, "Objectively speaking, for a long time, it has indeed been a common industry practice to add fine print for labeling and annotation on promotional materials, such as posters and PPTs. Previously, we mainly considered legal compliance because we had to comply with the Advertising Law. Indeed, some of these practices ignored people's feelings, resulting in such a situation." (Blue Whale News)
Unitree Technology: Not involved in applying for the "green channel" and the listing work is progressing normally
36Kr has learned that recently, a certain media published a report related to the listing of Unitree Technology (hereinafter referred to as "the report"), which was widely reprinted by many media, online platforms and self - media. The content of the report regarding the relevant dynamics of our company's listing work does not conform to the facts. Our company is not involved in applying for the "green channel". The relevant report has misled public perception and seriously infringed on the legitimate rights and interests of our company. Our company has reported the situation to the competent authorities and at the same time urged the relevant parties to withdraw the false report. Our company hereby solemnly declares that we reserve the right to pursue legal liability in the future. At present, our company's listing work is progressing normally, and the relevant progress will be disclosed in accordance with laws and regulations. Thank you for the concern and support from all sectors of society for our company.
ROMOSS Initiates Restructuring Plan and Plans to Re - Obtain New 3C Certification
It is learned from people familiar with the matter that ROMOSS has internally initiated a restructuring plan named the "Rebirth Plan", and the relevant project establishment work will be officially implemented in January 2026. According to the plan, the company aims to complete the capital introduction and restructuring work in the first quarter of 2026, and simultaneously re - obtain the new 3C certification to fully restore the product sales system. The above - mentioned people familiar with the matter revealed that ROMOSS has started negotiations with well - known investment institutions such as Sequoia Capital and GSR Ventures, and some institutions have expressed their investment intentions. Meanwhile, ROMOSS has also negotiated debt - to - equity conversion solutions with multiple suppliers and promised to gradually pay off the relevant debts after the company achieves profitability. (Phoenix Tech)
Large Companies/ Major Events
Yoshua Bengio Discusses Reasons for Leaving Meta
Since the news of his departure from Meta broke, Yoshua Bengio's schedule has been extremely packed. Reports state that Bengio's new company is called the Advanced Machine Intelligence Lab, which will be led by Alex Lebrun, the co-founder and CEO of French medical AI startup Nabla. When talking about the reasons for his decision to leave Meta after more than a decade, Bengio was outspoken. He said that continuing to stay at the company had put him in an irreconcilable position. Another major reason for his departure is that his research results in the field of world models and autonomous intelligent agents (AMI) have shown many potential application scenarios, such as in aero - engines and heavy industry. However, these areas are not Meta's focus. (Sina Finance)
Apple Responds to Rumors of AI Gray-Testing Launch
Some bloggers claim that Apple has recently launched a gray test for the "Apple Intelligence and Siri" feature on some devices sold in the Chinese mainland. Users who are eligible for the test can view relevant options in the device settings. Some netizens commented that they also received a reminder for an Apple AI intelligence upgrade. However, during use, they found that the AI's responses are all based on existing answers from Baidu, suggesting that some features may have been disabled.
In response, a reporter contacted Apple. The technical advisor stated that Apple AI has not been officially launched yet, and the subsequent launch will be announced on the official website. It is expected that only iPhone 15 Pro and later models will be compatible with Apple AI. "Because the AI algorithm has very high requirements for hardware, and the hardware of the iPhone 15 has not reached that level." The aforementioned technical advisor also reminded that some bloggers previously bypassed restrictions and forcibly enabled the feature through third-party software. "This has an impact on the security of funds and accounts." (21st Century Business Herald)
"i Moutai" Sold Out Instantly for 4 Consecutive Days, Moutai's Wholesale Price Drops Below 1,499 Yuan Again
After "i Moutai" released products at a price of 1,499 yuan for several consecutive days, the wholesale price of 53% ABV 500ml Feitian Moutai has entered a downward channel again. Data from multiple third-party quotation platforms show that on January 4th, the wholesale price of 2025 Feitian Moutai dropped below 1,499 yuan per bottle again, a cumulative decrease of about 100 yuan per bottle compared to a week ago. The industry believes that the products released by "i Moutai" are basically digested by the real market demand, which can effectively increase Moutai's revenue. However, the long-term impact on the industry remains to be seen. (Yicai Global)
Burger King's Online Ordering System Crashes, Staff Responds
On January 4th, the first working day after the New Year's Day holiday, "Burger King is down" trended on Weibo. Netizens complained that Burger King's online ordering system crashed collectively, with the page continuously prompting "The event is too popular" and "System error". Burger King's official service hotline was temporarily unavailable. A staff member at a Burger King store said that there was a malfunction in the ordering system, and the company was conducting emergency repairs. (Zhulang News)
Tencent Customer Service Responds to the Number of WeChat Pinned Chats: No Specific Limit Set for Now
On January 4th, the topic "Dad has 2,000 pinned chats on WeChat" trended on social media, sparking heated discussions among netizens. Regarding the issue of whether there is a limit to the number of pinned WeChat chats, a reporter contacted Tencent Customer Service. The customer service representative responded that there is currently no limit to the number of pinned WeChat chats. However, when the number of pinned chats exceeds one screen's display capacity, the system will automatically collapse them. Additionally, the customer service also stated that users can click the "∨" at the bottom - right corner of the current pinned chat window to expand and view all pinned content. (Caijing.com Technology)
Application for Childcare Subsidies in 2026 Starts Today
Reporters learned from the National Health Commission on January 5th that the application for the 2026 childcare subsidies officially starts today. For all infants and toddlers who meet the application criteria, the applicants can apply online today through the "Childcare Subsidies" mini-program on Alipay and WeChat platforms, as well as the childcare subsidy application section on the government service platform of the province where the infant's household registration is located. They can also apply offline at the relevant departments in the place of household registration. (CCTV News)
It is reported that Chen Yonghai, vice president of XPeng, has left the company, and his position is temporarily taken over by President Wang Fengying
According to a report on the evening of January 4th, some media reported that Chen Yonghai, vice president of XPeng's product operation center, left the company in December 2025, and his position is temporarily taken over by President Wang Fengying. As of the time of publication, XPeng has not responded yet. Information shows that Chen Yonghai joined UC founded by He Xiaopeng in 2010 and served as a product supervisor. He also worked at 360 and AutoNavi Map. In January 2022, Chen Yonghai joined XPeng. Currently, Chen Yonghai's Weibo profile still identifies him as the vice president of XPeng. (Sina Tech)
Some "Waxiaozong" trademarks registered successfully
On January 4, Jiemian News exclusively discovered that two trademarks of "Waxiaozong" and "KELLYONE" were successfully registered. The latest developments of Hangzhou Hongsheng Beverage Group Co., Ltd. show that two "Waxiaozong" trademarks were successfully registered. The international classifications belong to "Social services" and "Medical and horticultural" respectively. The registration announcement date is December 21, 2025, and the patent right term is from December 14, 2025, to December 13, 2035.
In addition, the latest developments of Hangzhou Hengze Food and Beverage Co., Ltd. under Hongsheng Beverage show that the trademark "KELLYONE" was registered and approved. The international classification is "30 - Convenience foods", and the patent right term is from December 21, 2025, to December 20, 2035. (Jiemian News)
Did the "Face Washing Bear" stores in multiple locations "run away"? The founder apologizes
Recently, the facial cleansing and care brand "Face Washing Bear · Face Washing Bar" (hereinafter referred to as Face Washing Bear) has been rumored to have its stores in multiple locations "run away". Consumers from Guangdong, Shanghai, Zhejiang and other places have complained that shortly after they recharged at Face Washing Bear stores, they were unable to contact the stores, and their membership cards were not usable at other Face Washing Bear stores, facing difficulties in getting refunds. In response to this incident, Tang Huabo, the founder of Face Washing Bear, told reporters from the Southern Metropolis Daily's Bay Financial News that he deeply blamed himself for the company's inadequate supervision and would effectively safeguard consumers' rights and interests.
Face Washing Bear issued a statement saying that after verification, the stores that closed and failed to properly handle refund matters this time were due to individual stores closing down without full communication with the headquarters and in violation of the cooperation agreement. Currently, more than 2,600 Face Washing Bear stores across the country are operating normally, and the services have not been affected. (Jiemian News)
Duty-Free Tobacco Products Trading Management Platform Officially Launched
36Kr learned that the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration issued a document on January 4th, stating that in accordance with the requirements of the "Administrative Measures for Tobacco Products in the Domestic Duty-Free Market" (Announcement No. 1 of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration in 2025), the duty-free tobacco products trading management platform was officially launched on January 1st, 2026. All relevant enterprises should conduct duty-free tobacco products transactions through the platform.
142 million domestic trips were made during the New Year's Day holiday
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced the situation of the culture and tourism market during the New Year's Day holiday in 2026 on January 4. During the three - day New Year's Day holiday, 142 million domestic trips were made across the country, with a total domestic tourism expenditure of 84.789 billion yuan. (Xinhua News Agency)
Did Enchem of South Korea Sign a Five-Year Long-Term Contract for Electrolytes with CATL? Enchem Responds
According to Shanghai Metals Market, South Korean electrolyte supplier Enchem previously held a board meeting and approved a five-year electrolyte supply agreement with CATL. Under the contract, Enchem will supply a cumulative 350,000 tons of electrolytes between 2026 and 2030. In response to this matter, Enchem said, "Please refer to the official announcement for relevant matters." The company also said that this cooperation will significantly increase the company's sales, profits, capacity utilization rate and market share starting from 2026. To ensure the fulfillment of the contract, Enchem is formulating a capacity expansion plan and a supply chain adjustment plan. (Jiemian News)
US Tech Billionaires to Cash Out Over $16 Billion in Tech Stocks in 2025
According to a rough analysis, tech stocks worth over $16 billion will be cashed out in 2025. Among them, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, will have the largest cash - out amount. He sold a total of 25 million shares of Amazon stock in June and July last year, cashing out $5.7 billion. Besides Bezos, Safra Catz, the former CEO of Oracle, ranks second with a cash - out of $2.5 billion, and Michael Dell, the chairman of Dell Technologies, takes third place with $2.2 billion. (Cailian Press)
Wall Street Bets on Continued Bull Market for U.S. Stocks in 2026
Wall Street is betting that the coming wave of interest rate cuts and strong corporate earnings will be enough to drive U.S. stocks to rise for another year. From 2023 to 2025, the S&P 500 index and other major U.S. stock indexes have recorded double-digit percentage gains for three consecutive years. "The market will probably run smoothly, but obviously it won't reproduce the hot market conditions of the past few years," said Mark Hackett, chief market strategist at Nationwide Insurance. (Sina Finance)
Irish Prime Minister Martin Arrives in Beijing for a Five - day Visit to China
On the afternoon of January 4th, Irish Prime Minister Martin arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport by plane, kicking off a five - day visit to China. This is the first visit to China by an Irish prime minister in 14 years. In addition to Beijing, Prime Minister Martin will also visit Shanghai. (CCTV News)
South Korean President Lee Jae - myung arrives in Beijing to start his visit to China
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, South Korean President Lee Jae - myung arrived in Beijing on January 4 to start a four - day state visit to China. (Xinhua News Agency)
Xiaohongshu: By 2025, there will be over 3,000 interest communities active on the platform
36Kr learned that recently, Xiaohongshu released the "Xiaohongshu 2025 Annual Interest Report". The report data shows that currently, there are more than 3,000 interest communities active on Xiaohongshu, among which over 300 interest communities have been regularly operated.
Duan Yongping Shows His Apple Holdings Again, with a Cumulative Return of Over 16 Times in 14 Years and a Net Profit of Over $34 Million
Recently, well - known investor Duan Yongping posted on the investment communication platform Xueqiu under the ID "The Grand Dao is Formless and I Have My Own Style" to show some of his holdings. The picture shows that this account started buying Apple stocks in November 2011, with a cumulative return rate of 1623.48%, and the current profit amount is approximately $34.26 million. Duan Yongping said, "This is the Apple (stock) in an account I manage. I haven't made many changes to it over the years." The picture shows that the account bought Apple stocks in November 2011 and December 2022 respectively. The first purchase was 131,000 shares at an average price of $13.75 per share; the second purchase was 2,388 shares at an average price of $128.94 per share. The two investments brought Duan Yongping profits of $33.92 million and $342,700 respectively, with return rates as high as 1881.8% and 111.3%. (Daily Finance)
250 million yuan worth of Vanke's equity frozen
36Kr learned that according to the Aiqicha App, recently, Vanke Enterprise Co., Ltd. has a new piece of equity freezing information. The enterprise where the equity is located is Vanke Logistics Development Co., Ltd. The amount of frozen equity is 250 million yuan, and the freezing period is 3 years. The enforcing court is the Intermediate People's Court of Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province. Vanke Logistics Development Co., Ltd. was established in December 2017, with Wu Beiwen as its legal representative. Its registered capital is approximately 33.05 billion yuan. Its business scope includes general cargo warehousing services, domestic freight forwarding, supply chain management services, etc. Shareholder information shows that the company is jointly held by Vanke Enterprise Co., Ltd., Dahlia Investments Pte. Ltd., Reco Meranti Private Limited, etc.
Lei Jun: Xiaomi's target for car deliveries in 2026 is 550,000 units
Lei Jun, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Xiaomi Group, held his first live - stream in 2026 on January 3rd. During the live - stream, engineers disassembled the Xiaomi YU7 on site. Lei Jun stated that he will devote more energy to the car business this year. He set the delivery target at 550,000 units, believing that it should neither be too high nor too low. He hopes to exceed this result by the end of 2026. (Sina Tech)
Lei Jun said that the wheel of Xiaomi car falling off is a "sacrifice the wheel to save the car" strategy
When talking about the safety of Xiaomi YU7, Lei Jun mentioned that the vehicle's safety design takes into account the "sacrifice the wheel to save the car" concept. He said that many consumers don't understand and always say that our car's wheel fell off. In fact, this is a very important safety strategy. Actually, the wheel flies out after being squeezed. This is mainly a safety measure. So, if you see someone on the Internet criticizing us for this, you must help us explain that this is a "sacrifice the wheel to save the car" strategy. (Sina Technology)
iPhone Alarms Still Can't Recognize Makeup Workdays
The New Year's Day holiday has ended, and people have to work on January 4th as it is a makeup workday. For iPhone users, they need to manually adjust their alarms. Regarding the issue that iPhone users have to manually adjust their alarms, Apple customer service responded that the weekday setting for Apple alarms is from Monday to Friday, and the current system still can't recognize makeup workdays. Users can try using third - party software to set alarms or make manual settings in advance. (Sina Technology)
Starlink: Offer One-Month Free Broadband Service to Venezuela
According to Xinhua News Agency, Starlink, the satellite internet project under the U.S. aerospace company SpaceX, said on the 3rd that it would offer a one-month free broadband service to Venezuela. Starlink posted a message on social media on the same day, saying, "We will provide free broadband service to the people of Venezuela until February 3rd to ensure uninterrupted network connectivity." Starlink did not offer further explanations. Currently, the network connectivity in Venezuela is basically normal. (Caixin)
The Cutting-Edge of AI
Elon Musk: New Version of Grok Released
Elon Musk stated on social media that a new version of Grok has been released. (Yicai Global)
Financial Reports of Large Companies
BL Dongfang: Net Profit in 2025 is Expected to Increase by 46.34%-70.73% Year-on-Year
36Kr learned that BL Dongfang released its 2025 annual performance forecast. It is estimated that the net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company will range from 600 million yuan to 700 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 46.34% to 70.73%. The net profit after deducting non-recurring gains and losses will range from 550 million yuan to 650 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 150.00% to 195.45%. During the reporting period, the company had a full order book, the capacity utilization rate rebounded, the sales volume maintained growth in the second half of the year, and the profit from the main business increased.
Longjian Co., Ltd. Performance Report: Net profit in 2025 was 405 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 2.05%
36Kr learned that Longjian Road & Bridge Co., Ltd. released its 2025 annual performance report. The total operating revenue was 17.685 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 3.31%. The net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company was 405 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 2.05%. During the reporting period, the infrastructure industry in which the company operates was affected by industry factors and national macro policies, resulting in a slight decline in the current operating revenue and profit level compared with the same period of the previous year.
Compiled | Chenxi