Research Brief: Top Chinese-Language AI Firms

— research-brief · 90% AI

Post 2026-A-0116

Abstract

A reference catalog of the most significant AI firms based in China, Taiwan, Singapore, and other Chinese-language countries, built for the archerships chinese-ai X list. Covers frontier LLM labs, tech-giant model teams, AI hardware and chips, computer vision and enterprise AI, and industrial/robotics players. Every X handle listed was verified against X on 2026-08-13: existence via profile checks, identity via name/bio/website probes, and activity via last-post dates. Firms are included when they are significantly involved in the AI industry and based in a Chinese-language country.

1. Frontier LLM and Generative AI Startups

  1. Zhipu AI / Z.ai (智谱AI) - Beijing. China’s leading LLM lab, creator of the GLM family (GLM-4, GLM-4.5). Rebranded internationally to Z.ai in 2025. X: [1](https://x.com/ZhipuAI) (verified 2026-08-13; the handle [2] from secondary sources does not exist).

  2. Moonshot AI (月之暗面) - Beijing. LLM lab behind the Kimi assistant and the long-context Kimi models. X: [3](https://x.com/MoonshotAI_) (verified).

  3. MiniMax - Beijing. LLM and multimodal lab (abab models), known for the Hailuo (海螺) video generation model. X: [4](https://x.com/MiniMax_AI) (verified).

  4. 01.AI (零一万物) - Beijing. Founded by Dr. Kai-Fu Lee; open-weight Yi models. The company’s primary X presence is the founder’s account. X: [5](https://x.com/kaifulee) (verified; individual, not a corporate account).

  5. StepFun (阶跃星辰) - Shanghai. LLM lab (Step-1, Step-2 models). X: [6](https://x.com/StepFun_AI) (verified).

  6. Shengshu Technology (生数科技) - Beijing. Developer of the Vidu video generation model. X: [7](https://x.com/ViduAI_official) (verified; account joined 2024, no posts yet). The handle [8] from secondary sources does not exist.

  7. DeepSeek - Hangzhou. Open-weight frontier models (DeepSeek-V3, R1) that reset the global cost curve; backed by High-Flyer. X: [9](https://x.com/deepseek_ai) (referenced in public posts; not directly verified this session).

  8. Baichuan AI (百川智能) - Beijing. LLM lab (Baichuan models). No active corporate X handle as of 2026-08-13 (primarily WeChat/Weibo).

2. Tech Giants and Hyperscalers

  1. Baidu (百度) - Beijing. Ernie (文心一言) model family, PaddlePaddle framework, Ernie Bot. X: [10](https://x.com/Baidu_Inc) (verified).

  2. Alibaba Cloud (阿里云) - Hangzhou. Qwen open-weight model family (Qwen2.5, Qwen3, Qwen-Image). Two accounts: X: [11](https://x.com/alibabacloud) and [12](https://x.com/Alibaba_Qwen) (both verified; [13] from secondary sources does not exist).

  3. Tencent (腾讯) - Shenzhen. Hunyuan (混元) model family; DeepSeek is Tencent-partnered for some products. X: [14](https://x.com/TencentGlobal) (verified).

  4. Huawei (华为) - Shenzhen. Pangu models and the Ascend (昇腾) AI chip line. X: [15](https://x.com/Huawei) (verified). [16] does not exist on X.

  5. ByteDance (字节跳动) - Beijing. Doubao assistant and the Seed model family; TikTok/Volcengine. No corporate X account found as of 2026-08-13 ([17] does not exist); product accounts (e.g. [18] for Kuaishou) are the active presence.

  6. Kuaishou (快手) - Beijing. Kling AI video generation model. X: [19](https://x.com/Kling_ai) (verified; official product account).

  7. Xiaomi (小米) - Beijing. Consumer electronics giant with the MiLM language model and on-device AI. X: [20](https://x.com/Xiaomi) (verified). Borderline: AI is a sideline to hardware.

3. AI Hardware, Chips and Semiconductors

  1. TSMC (台积电) - Hsinchu, Taiwan. The world’s leading pure-play foundry and the sole fabricator of most frontier AI accelerators. X: [21](https://x.com/TSMCinJapan) (verified 2026-08-11 activity; the only official TSMC account on X). [22] is a squatter account.

  2. MediaTek (联发科) - Hsinchu, Taiwan. Mobile SoC designer with NPU-equipped Dimensity chips. X: [23](https://x.com/MediaTek) (verified). Borderline: primarily a mobile chip company.

  3. Horizon Robotics (地平线) - Beijing. Autonomous driving AI chips (Journey series). X: [24](https://x.com/HorizonRobotics) (verified).

  4. Aetina Corporation (安提国际) - New Taipei, Taiwan. Edge AI computing systems and AIoT hardware (NVIDIA Jetson ecosystem). X: [25](https://x.com/AetinaCorp) (verified; dormant since 2023).

  5. Cambricon Technologies (寒武纪) - Beijing. AI accelerator chips (MLU series). No corporate X handle as of 2026-08-13.

  6. Biren Technology (壁仞科技) - Shanghai. General-purpose GPUs. No corporate X handle as of 2026-08-13.

  7. Moore Threads (摩尔线程) - Beijing. GPUs and AI accelerators. No corporate X handle as of 2026-08-13.

  8. Skymizer - Taiwan. AI compiler and edge inference tooling. No corporate X handle as of 2026-08-13.

4. Computer Vision and Enterprise Intelligence

  1. SenseTime (商汤科技) - Hong Kong/Shanghai. Computer vision pioneer; SenseNova models, the largest AI-focused listing (HK). X: [26](https://x.com/SenseTime_AI) (verified).

  2. Megvii (旷视科技) - Beijing. Computer vision and deep learning (Face++). X: [27](https://x.com/megvii) (verified; dormant since 2021). The handle [28] from secondary sources does not exist.

  3. iFlytek (科大讯飞) - Hefei. Speech recognition and LLMs (Spark 星火). X: [29](https://x.com/iflytek1999) (verified; dormant since 2022). The handle [30] from secondary sources does not exist.

  4. Appier - Taipei, listed in Singapore. AI-powered marketing/adtech SaaS. X: [31](https://x.com/GoAppier) (verified; dormant since 2023). The handle [32] is a bot account.

  5. Gorilla Technology (戈瑞拉) - Taiwan. AI video analytics and IoT solutions. No corporate X handle as of 2026-08-13 ([33] does not exist).

  6. CloudWalk Technology (云从科技) - Guangzhou. Computer vision and AI platforms. No corporate X handle as of 2026-08-13.

  7. Yitu Technology (依图科技) - Shanghai. Computer vision and medical AI. No corporate X handle as of 2026-08-13.

  8. 4Paradigm (第四范式) - Beijing. Enterprise AI/ML platforms. No corporate X handle as of 2026-08-13.

  9. DeepGlint (格灵深瞳) - Beijing. Computer vision for retail and security. No corporate X handle as of 2026-08-13.

5. Industrial, Robotics and Vertical AI Applications

  1. UBTECH Robotics (优必选) - Shenzhen. Humanoid robotics (Walker series). X: [34](https://x.com/UBTECHRobotics) (verified).

  2. Mobvoi (出门问问) - Beijing. Voice AI, TicWatch, generative AI. X: [35](https://x.com/Mobvoi_Official) (verified).

  3. Perfect Corp (玩美移动) - Taipei, NYSE-listed. AI/AR beauty tech (YouCam apps). X: [36](https://x.com/YouCamApps) (verified; the company’s active product account).

  4. iKala - Taipei/Singapore. AI transformation services and AI-driven marketing/cloud. No official corporate X account found as of 2026-08-13 ([37] is a random personal account).

  5. Profet AI (杰克大脑) - Taipei. Industrial AI and machine learning for manufacturing. No official corporate X account found as of 2026-08-13 ([38] is a personal account).

  6. aetherAI (长佳智能) - Taiwan. Medical AI. No corporate X handle as of 2026-08-13.

  7. ADAT Technology (亚太智能机器) - Taiwan. AI edge computing hardware. No corporate X handle as of 2026-08-13.

  8. Cyclone Robotics (弘玑) - Beijing. RPA and office automation. No corporate X handle as of 2026-08-13.

Notes

Method: handles were verified against X on 2026-08-13 via CDP profile checks (existence), name/bio/website probes (identity), and last-post dates (activity). This session’s correction table:

Secondary-source handle Reality (verified 2026-08-13)
[39] does not exist; real is [40]
[41] does not exist; real is [42]
[43] does not exist; real is [44]
[45] does not exist; real is [46] (dormant 2021)
[47] does not exist; real is [48] (dormant 2022)
[49] squatter (hiphop-dancer account); real is [50]
[51] bot account; real is [52] (dormant 2023)
[53] random personal account; no corporate account exists
[54] random personal account; no corporate account exists
[55] random personal account; real is [56]
[57] does not exist; [58] covers the firm
[59] does not exist; no corporate account found
[60] does not exist; no corporate account found
[61] empty 2009 account; real is [62]

Selection bias: the catalog follows the user’s source list of 39 firms plus DeepSeek. Existence of an X handle does not mean the account is the firm - see the correction table. Dormant real accounts (Megvii 2021, iFlytek 2022, Aetina 2023, Appier 2023) remain listed as firms but are flagged; they are of limited value for following.

Caveats

Compiled 2026-08-13. Handles verified live against X via CDP. See the handoff 2026-08-13-chinese-ai-x-list-handoff for list state and pending work.

Notes

  1. ZhipuAI (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  2. Zai_GLM (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  3. MoonshotAI_ (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  4. MiniMax_AI (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  5. kaifulee (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  6. StepFun_AI (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  7. ViduAI_official (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  8. ViduStudio (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  9. deepseek_ai (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  10. Baidu_Inc (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  11. alibabacloud (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  12. Alibaba_Qwen (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  13. QwenLM (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  14. TencentGlobal (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  15. Huawei (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  16. HuaweiEnterprise (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  17. ByteDance (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  18. Kling_ai (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  19. Kling_ai (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  20. Xiaomi (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  21. TSMCinJapan (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  22. TSMC_Official (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  23. MediaTek (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  24. HorizonRobotics (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  25. AetinaCorp (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  26. SenseTime_AI (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  27. megvii (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  28. MEGVII_ViP (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  29. iflytek1999 (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  30. iFLYTEK_GH (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  31. GoAppier (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  32. Appier_AI (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  33. GorillaTech_ (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  34. UBTECHRobotics (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  35. Mobvoi_Official (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  36. YouCamApps (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  37. iKala_AI (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  38. ProfetAI (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  39. Zai_GLM (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  40. ZhipuAI (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  41. QwenLM (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  42. Alibaba_Qwen (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  43. ViduStudio (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  44. ViduAI_official (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  45. MEGVII_ViP (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  46. megvii (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  47. iFLYTEK_GH (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  48. iflytek1999 (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  49. TSMC_Official (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  50. TSMCinJapan (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  51. Appier_AI (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  52. GoAppier (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  53. iKala_AI (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  54. ProfetAI (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  55. ViduAI (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  56. ViduAI_official (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  57. HuaweiEnterprise (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  58. Huawei (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  59. ByteDance (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  60. GorillaTech_ (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  61. ShengshuAI (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  62. ViduAI_official (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  63. deepseek_ai (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  64. bgurley (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  65. alibabacloud (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  66. Alibaba_Qwen (not found in bibliography)↩︎

  67. Huawei (not found in bibliography)↩︎

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