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Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Monday that artificial intelligence was a consequential technology for humanity and should be developed openly and inclusively. Asked about calls from Dario Amodei, Sam Altman and Elon Musk for companies to slow frontier development, Guo warned that “fear-mongering, confrontation and vicious competition” would hinder sound global AI governance.

The response came as Washington’s debate over AI safety widened into a strategic argument about China. Anthropic chief executive Amodei has urged tougher safeguards for advanced systems and has argued that a Chinese lead in frontier AI could create national security risks for the United States. OpenAI chief executive Altman and Musk have also called for stronger precautions as systems become more capable.

Trump, however, has resisted proposals that could materially slow US development. He said this week that America already had tools to police the industry and stressed the importance of maintaining leadership over China. House Speaker Mike Johnson similarly rejected a moratorium, saying any pause could hand Beijing a competitive advantage and create national security risks.

The dispute places AI governance among the issues likely to shadow the Trump-Xi meeting scheduled for September 24 in Washington. The leaders are also expected to confront trade disputes, semiconductor restrictions and China’s controls on rare-earth exports, all of which affect the broader contest over computing capacity and advanced manufacturing.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is due to meet Vice-Premier He Lifeng before the summit.

China has presented a different framework for AI governance, emphasising access, development and multilateral rules while opposing measures it regards as technological containment. At the BRICS summit this month, Xi proposed an open-source and inclusive AI initiative and said China would help establish a BRICS AI open-source community and digital ecosystem platform.

Beijing has nevertheless acknowledged the risks posed by increasingly powerful systems. Chinese officials have called for stronger global governance and risk awareness, while arguing that safety should not become a justification for blocking technological diffusion. The government has also supported the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, whose founding agreement was signed in Shanghai in July by 29 countries.

The argument over safety is closely linked to semiconductor controls. Washington has maintained restrictions on the export of advanced computing technology to China, although the Commerce Department in January shifted applications for Nvidia H200, AMD MI325X and comparable chips to case-by-case review under specified security conditions. Beijing has repeatedly criticised US technology restrictions as discriminatory and has threatened countermeasures when Chinese companies are targeted.

China’s Commerce Ministry last week also challenged a US cybersecurity advisory accusing China-based AI companies of using distillation campaigns against American models. The ministry said China was prepared for an intergovernmental AI dialogue with the United States but would respond if Washington used such allegations to suppress Chinese firms.

That exchange underscored the difficulty of separating AI safety from the strategic rivalry. US officials and technology executives increasingly frame advanced models as both commercial assets and national security capabilities, while China portrays broad restrictions as attempts to preserve US dominance.

There are areas of overlap. Both governments have said advanced AI presents risks requiring governance, and the two sides have agreed to launch an intergovernmental dialogue on the technology. Informal discussions among researchers and policy specialists have also continued, though official positions remain far apart on access to chips, model controls and the balance between safety and development.

The September 24 summit follows Trump’s May visit to China, when the two leaders agreed to pursue what the White House described as strategic stability and set up new bilateral trade and investment mechanisms. Artificial intelligence was not the centrepiece of those agreements, but it has since moved higher on the bilateral agenda as concerns over model capabilities, export controls and industrial competition have intensified.

SWISS REJU Introduces AI Algo Slimming and MedTech from Silicon Valley

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 September 2026 – Premier Hong Kong body-sculpting and wellness boutique SWISS REJU has added another prestigious accolade to its portfolio, shining brightly at the HK01 Health Easy Awards ceremony. Hosted by leading media platform HK01, the landmark industry event—featuring the “Health Industry Trends Symposium and HK01 Healthy Easy Awards”—was successfully held at The Ritz-Carlton, ICC, Hong Kong, drawing industry leaders for an evening of high-level exchange and celebration. The event opened with a keynote address by Dr. Ko Wing-man, a widely respected member of the Executive Council. SWISS REJU was honored to attend and was officially named the winner of the HK01 “Exquisite Body-Sculpting Reputable Brand Award.” The event paid tribute to Hong Kong’s most exceptional wellness brands. SWISS REJU is deeply honored to receive authoritative recognition at this highly credible awards ceremony.

The rigorous and meticulous evaluation mechanism of the Healthy Easy Awards combines months of authentic user voting with expert panel reviews, reflecting genuine client feedback alongside professional evaluation. This year’s winner’s circle featured an elite lineup of premier brands and institutions, including St. Paul’s Hospital, Hong Kong Baptist Hospital East Kowloon Medical Centre, iHerb, Nestlé ThickenUp, and Yakult. Each winning brand demonstrated professional excellence, standing out as an industry leader. Through ethical business practices and exceptional QCAC management, SWISS REJU K-Lipolysis® was likewise awarded the “Exquisite Body-Sculpting Reputable Brand Award.”

SWISS REJU extends its sincere gratitude for the glowing user reviews and expert support, remaining steadfast in its mission to advance Hong Kong’s wellness industry. This marks SWISS REJU’s third consecutive year receiving a major annual award from HK01. Coupled with earlier honors—including the Cosmopolitan Best of the Best Award, the Sunday More Hong Kong No.1 Best Body Contouring Treatment, and the JESSICA Annual Best AI Slimming Award—this also represents the 15th major annual accolade SWISS REJU has earned from prominent organizations. Achieving excellence across numerous voting polls, backed by the endorsement of industry experts, stands as a testament to the exceptional reputation of SWISS REJU’s signature K-Lipolysis body contouring program.

Celebrating a Decade of Excellence: SWISS REJU Marks 10 Years of Unrivaled Brand Prestige
“The HK01 Reputable Brand Award is a tremendous encouragement,” stated the brand spokesperson. “To be recognized as a premier, high-reputation brand among over 8,000 beauty and wellness enterprises in Hong Kong is a major encouragement. We remain firmly committed to our core values, continuing to deliver reliable, trusted body contouring, and advanced wellness services.”

Having operated in Central for nearly a decade, SWISS REJU has witnessed the rise of standardized, ethical business practices in Hong Kong, actively supporting the industry’s ongoing reform and optimization. Today’s consumers increasingly gravitate toward high-transparency, stable operations, and high-reputation brands offering flexible installment options. As public awareness grows, discerning clients prefer equipment and technologies backed by rigorous certifications, such as the U.S. FDA, EU MDR / Medical CE, and Hong Kong Department of Health MDACS. This is why SWISS REJU has consistently invested millions to introduce genuine, top-tier technologies, including BTL EXION, INDIBA, WINBACK, NeoCare Elite, ATP LIPO X, Lumenis Pollogen DMA, and VIORA Reaction. This strong technical advantage paired with nearly a decade of distinguished reputation, has established an extraordinary level of client trust.

Unveiling the All-New SWISS REJU AI Weight-Loss Algorithm X Silicon Valley Health Tech
This year’s seminar centered on advanced weight management and cross-border collaboration. SWISS REJU has long believed that the aesthetic and body-sculpting industry in Hong Kong can more proactively embrace its role as an international technological bridge. Consequently, the brand has taken the lead in introducing cutting-edge nutritional science and longevity research from Silicon Valley, combining advanced research with high-tech instrumentation to elevate the overall efficacy of K-Lipolysis program.

The pioneering AI Algo Slimming introduced by SWISS REJU utilizes artificial intelligence to automatically calculate energy output, dynamically mapping the optimal energy pathway every second to enhance efficacy and safety. By integrating Silicon Valley advanced health and nutritional management, SWISS REJU stands among the pioneering advanced body-sculpting brands in Hong Kong to champion Silicon Valley biohacking preventive medicine and longevity technology. This elevates the scientific standard of Hong Kong’s wellness sector, delivering a state-of-the-art body contouring and health experience for clients across Hong Kong and the the Greater Bay Area.

To learn more, visit: http://www.reju.hk

Hashtag: #swissreju #熱光溶脂

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The value of technology goes beyond efficiency. Emma Wu noticed that a large number of overseas fresh fruit brands are stepping up their presence in China, while many domestic brands are showing a strong desire to go global. Emma Wu remarked: “A growing number of international brands are now registering Chinese brand names, setting up dedicated consumer brand teams, and increasing their investment at the retail end. The essence of branding lies in brand owners extending their quality commitment to the end consumer. This, in turn, requires them to maintain effective control of product condition at every link of the domestic supply chain. The same applies to Chinese brands going global.”

In the past, once imported fruit arrived at port, quality essentially entered a “black box” — brand owners had no visibility over key metrics like arrival temperature, handling status, or outbound records across the supply chain.

Emma Wu added that AI is transforming the fresh fruit and vegetables industry from one that “runs on experience” to one that “makes decisions with data.” In sorting and quality inspection, AI vision technology can assess coloration, size, and defects within a second — with greater accuracy and consistency than the human eye. In warehousing, automated equipment is taking over repetitive tasks such as material handling and palletizing. In transportation, IoT sensors track the temperature and location of every load in real time, and could raise the alarm before any issue arises.

Built around the unique characteristics of berry products, VX Logistics has customized a comprehensive end-to-end solution encompassing precision temperature and humidity management as well as rapid in-warehouse throughput — supporting the annual market launch of close to 200 million boxes of berries for Driscoll’s.

Zespri has been a partner of VX Logistics for over a decade. VX Logistics has built a full end-to-end system for Zespri in China – covering warehousing, quality inspection, ripening, automated sorting, and packaging.

“Cold-chain logistics is not a cost center — it is a value center.” She further pointed out that cold-chain logistics today is no longer merely a cost item for warehousing and transportation. It is a provider of supply chain solutions for brand clients. Both expanding overseas and deepening presence in China demand stable temperature and humidity control and quality assurance. The technological nature and professional reliability of cold-chain operations make cold-chain logistics an “added value” that safeguards product quality and reduces loss.

After 13 years of dedicated development, VX Logistics’ cold-chain scale now ranks first in Asia and stands firmly among the global top tier. As the supply chain service provider behind renowned fruit brands such as Zespri, Driscoll’s, Envy Apples, and Rockit, VX Logistics’ core competitive edge lies in its technology-driven supply chain services.
Hashtag: #VXLogistics

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

By TN Ashok The 18th BRICS Summit, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, was never going to escape Washington’s shadow — and it didn’t. Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi steered eleven member states toward a unanimously adopted New Delhi Declaration that pointedly avoided naming the United States, President Donald […]

The article India steers 18th BRICS summit deftly, keeps anti-West rhetoric at bay appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

WRISE Prestige records over300% revenue growth in HK since end-2024, expands to more than 400 IWCs and advances a new professional standard combining human expertise, independence and AI

• Assets under management increased by 927%, revenue grew by 301% and the number of clients increased by 382% compared with the end of 2024.
• WRISE Prestige’s network has expanded to more than 400 Independent Wealth Consultants (IWCs) in Hong Kong.
• The broader WRISE ecosystem has added capabilities spanning family office and wealth planning, corporate advisory, trust and legacy planning, structured products, international insurance and AI labs, while the IWC proposition evolves from Independent Wealth Consultant to Intelligent Wealth Consultant.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 September 2026 – WRISE Prestige, a core business of WRISE Group serving affluent and high-net-worth clients through a network of wealth consultants, is set to celebrate its second anniversary in Hong Kong on 16 September, marking two years of rapid growth and the next chapter in its approach to wealth advisory.

Since the end of 2024, WRISE Prestige in Hong Kong has recorded 927% growth in assets under management (AUM), 301% growth in revenue and a 382% increase in the number of clients. Its Hong Kong network has also grown to more than 400 IWCs, reflecting rising demand for independent, people-led advice and broader access to integrated wealth solutions.

Over the past two years, WRISE Prestige has broadened its role within the WRISE ecosystem, connecting clients with capabilities across different aspects of wealth and advisory. These include WRISE Capital for corporate finance and advisory services, WRISE Private for family office solutions and sophisticated wealth planning, and WRISE Master Trust for wealth structuring and legacy planning.

WRISE Prestige has broadened its solution capabilities in parallel, expanding its insurance spectrum from local offerings to Bermuda solutions and connecting clients with investment, banking, protection, trust and corporate advisory resources.

Client demand has become increasingly diverse, spanning liquidity, income, diversification, downside management, succession and cross-jurisdictional wealth planning. Structured products may be considered as part of client solutions where suitable, depending on risk tolerance and circumstances, illustrating the need for tailored risk-return outcomes rather than one-size-fits-all distribution.

The Group’s expanding regional footprint, including presences in Taipei, Shenzhen, Changsha, Chengdu, Wuxi and Vancouver, further strengthens WRISE Prestige’s ability to connect clients and wealth consultants with capabilities across markets.

The evolution comes as Hong Kong’s wealth management industry reaches a new scale. According to the Securities and Futures Commission, AUM in Hong Kong’s private banking and private wealth management business rose 24% year-on-year to HK$12.9 trillion at the end of 2025.^[1]

As wealth grows, the needs behind it are becoming increasingly complex. Clients require holistic advice connecting investments and protection with family governance, business interests, succession and intergenerational planning. They increasingly value sound judgement, independence, expertise, trust and connectivity to a wider wealth ecosystem.

WRISE Prestige believes this is expanding the role of the wealth consultant. Building on the foundations of independent wealth advisory, the IWC approach puts the individual at the centre, considering their family, business, aspirations, risks and legacy, while drawing on a broader ecosystem to address wealth more holistically. Within this approach, independence refers to an open-architecture model that gives wealth consultants the flexibility to consider solutions from a broad range of financial institutions and providers, rather than being tied to a single institution or product. This approach does not imply the absence of conflicts of interest; any applicable conflicts are managed and disclosed in accordance with relevant policies and regulatory requirements.

IWC is now entering its next chapter, evolving from Independent Wealth Consultant to Intelligent Wealth Consultant. The new proposition builds on the open-architecture approach, trusted human relationships and professional expertise that have defined IWC, while bringing together the research, analytical and efficiency capabilities of AI.

Technology can enhance how wealth consultants analyse information, generate insights and serve clients, while human judgement, accountability and relationships remain at the heart of wealth advice. The goal is not to replace wealth consultants with AI, but to empower them with greater capabilities to support better-informed, more holistic wealth decisions.

As part of this evolution, WRISE Prestige is also strengthening the professional development pathway for its IWC network through QLC, a structured professional assessment covering four specialist areas relevant to the evolving needs of high-net-worth clients: Family Office, Trust, Offshore Insurance and Advanced Investment. IWCs who complete the QLC examination will earn the designation of IWC-Certified, establishing a common foundation of professional knowledge and standards across the network. Following certification, IWCs can continue to develop through pathways recognising both professional expertise and business performance.

Henry Shin, CEO of WRISE Prestige Hong Kong, said: “The wealth management industry has continuously evolved, from traditional institution-led models, to the emergence of independent financial advice, and now towards a new generation of wealth advisory. We believe the next stage of this evolution is intelligence.

Intelligent Wealth Consultant brings together the independence and trust that have always been fundamental to wealth advice with professional expertise, human judgement, and the insights and analytical capabilities of artificial intelligence. This is not about replacing the human element with technology, but about empowering our consultants with technology to deliver deeper insights and help clients make more informed and holistic wealth decisions.

At WRISE Prestige, we aspire to take this evolution one step further, not simply to witness the transformation of our industry, but to work alongside the industry in helping shape best practices for the next generation of wealth advisory.”

Looking ahead, WRISE Prestige expects wealth management to become more connected, technology-enabled and accessible. Its focus will remain on combining technology with human judgement and relationships, using technology to improve connectivity, insight and scalability while maintaining appropriate professional and regulatory standards.

Over the next two to three years, WRISE Prestige plans to expand its business-to-business capabilities and advance an Open-EAM architecture that connects IWCs, external asset manager partners and clients through the broader WRISE ecosystem. The architecture is intended to make it easier for wealth consultants and partners to access specialist capabilities across wealth management, banking, investments, protection, trust and corporate advisory services, supported by technology and the WRISE platform.

Through this approach, WRISE Prestige aims to create greater connectivity and scale for wealth consultants, more integrated choices for clients, and a stronger professional ecosystem for Hong Kong and the region. Its ambition for the next chapter is not only to grow its own platform, but also to contribute to the continued development of wealth advisory across the industry.

Hashtag: #WRISEGroup

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About WRISE

WRISE is one of Asia’s fastest-growing financial firms, driven by strategic acquisitions of companies with deep expertise and solid foundations. With a strong presence across key financial hubs including Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Tokyo, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Changsha, Chengdu, Wuxi, Taipei and Vancouver, WRISE is home to one of the largest networks of independent qualified advisors. With over 600 employees located globally, supported by an ecosystem of over 200 financial intermediaries and access to eight booking centres worldwide, WRISE ensures unparalleled service and expertise in navigating today’s financial landscape.

WRISE Group of companies include WRISE Wealth Management (Singapore), WRISE Wealth Management (Hong Kong), WRISE Wealth Management Middle East Ltd (DIFC, regulated by the DFSA), WRISE Prestige (Hong Kong), WRISE Prestige Securities (Hong Kong), WRISE Prestige Asset Management (Hong Kong), WRISE Capital (Hong Kong), WRISE Financial Services (Hong Kong), and affiliates including WeWrise Services.

Rahul Chari, PhonePe’s founder and chief product and technology officer, said the company is concentrating on AI deployments that produce measurable gains in operating, product or revenue metrics rather than adding the technology indiscriminately across its platform.

Chari told the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai that the company’s approach starts with identifying operational bottlenecks where artificial intelligence can change outcomes. “Not everything that is an experience today gets genuinely better using AI,” he said. The emphasis, he added, is on a baseline shift in performance rather than the number of AI-labelled features. That approach is shaping investment across customer interactions, back-office workflows and engineering, while preserving conventional systems where automation offers little advantage.

The fintech processes close to 12 billion transactions a month and operates customer support with roughly 500 agents. Automation has increased the share of support cases handled without human intervention from about 90 per cent to 94 per cent, and PhonePe is targeting 96 per cent.

Chari said the remaining cases are harder because they often involve unusual circumstances, scattered information and the need for rapid responses. Large language models are being used to address those complex interactions, while human staff remain focused on cases that require judgement or escalation.

Fraud investigation is another area where automation has advanced. About 80 per cent of investigations can now be handled through automated systems, allowing specialist teams to concentrate on complicated incidents and new fraud patterns, according to the company’s account of its AI programme.

PhonePe is also extending artificial intelligence into consumer-facing services. It has been developing natural-language search that allows users to navigate the app, initiate tasks and reach relevant services using voice or text commands. The company is exploring broader conversational capabilities for personal finance, insurance and investment products.

Its search system, launched earlier this year using Microsoft Foundry, can interpret requests such as making a payment, recharging a FASTag or locating transaction information. PhonePe has said the interface is designed to reduce dependence on conventional menu navigation by directing users according to their stated intent.

Merchant products are another focus. PhonePe launched an AI-powered integration layer in May aimed at helping online businesses connect to its payment gateway through conversational instructions, reducing a process that can otherwise require developers to work through documentation and technical configuration.

The company followed in June with SmartPages, an AI-powered payment-page creator embedded in its payment gateway dashboard. Merchants can describe what they are selling in ordinary language, including vernacular languages, and the system generates product copy, selects relevant customer information fields and structures a mobile-oriented payment page.

PhonePe is considering further agentic functions for its business app, including answering merchant and customer queries and helping businesses create and distribute offers or coupons. The company has also examined tools that could connect commerce activity with services such as WhatsApp and Instagram.

Artificial intelligence is being incorporated throughout PhonePe’s software development process, including solution design, coding, code reviews, testing, deployment, troubleshooting and debugging. Internal tools include TraceMine for crash analysis, Lens for initial root-cause analysis using logs and deployment data, and KadAI for code orchestration and agent-based development.

Corporate functions are being brought into the same framework through an internal Agent Hub designed to let non-technology teams automate workflows. Legal, compliance, finance and human resources teams are among those using the platform.

PhonePe says the system was built for a regulated financial-services environment, with controls covering data access, leakage and localisation. Its architecture includes an in-house large language model router, open-source models hosted on company premises, and internal data and tools.

One target is the company’s new-product introduction process, where reviews involving compliance, privacy, legal, trust and safety can take about 30 days. PhonePe is exploring whether AI-enabled workflows can compress that process to less than a day.

Chinese President Xi Jinping used the 18th BRICS Summit to argue that countries should pursue development paths suited to their own national conditions, a message that overlapped with the summit’s broader emphasis on policy autonomy, inclusive growth and reform of global institutions.

Addressing the first leaders’ session on September 12, Xi marked 20 years of BRICS cooperation and said members had strengthened themselves through unity while preserving independence in choosing their economic and social models. He described BRICS as an increasingly important platform for emerging markets and developing countries.

The summit’s New Delhi Declaration gave that theme wider institutional form. Leaders called for a more representative international order, greater participation by developing countries in global decision-making and reforms to institutions including the United Nations, World Trade Organization and international financial architecture.

The declaration also reflected the diversity within the expanded grouping. Rather than prescribing a single model of development, BRICS leaders stressed national circumstances, differing capacities and the need for policy space, particularly in areas such as energy transition, industrialisation and climate action. That approach broadly matched Xi’s argument that development strategies should reflect domestic conditions rather than external templates.

Xi sought to extend the idea into technology policy. He proposed an initiative on artificial intelligence-enabled industrialisation, deeper cooperation in research and applications, and stronger industrial and supply-chain links. China also promoted open-source AI collaboration and international platforms intended to improve access to emerging technologies for developing economies.

Other leaders framed similar priorities through their own national perspectives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability, the four themes of India’s 2026 BRICS chairship, and called for solutions developed within the grouping to serve a wider range of developing countries. He also urged members to translate summit commitments into practical programmes.

BRICS members agreed on measures spanning digital cooperation, food and energy security, health, trade facilitation and the use of local currencies in cross-border transactions. The declaration supported stronger payment connectivity while stopping short of endorsing a common BRICS currency.

The economic agenda also underlined the practical test facing the grouping. Members backed use of national currencies in trade and investment, stronger cooperation through the New Development Bank and efforts to improve financial resilience. Such measures are intended to widen financing options for developing economies without committing members to a single monetary framework or common currency.

The expanded bloc now brings together countries with sharply different political systems, strategic alignments and economic structures. That breadth gives BRICS a larger claim to represent developing-country concerns, but it also limits how far members can converge on detailed policy prescriptions. Analysts have noted differences over whether the group should remain primarily an economic and development forum or assume a stronger geopolitical role.

Those tensions were visible alongside the development agenda. Leaders opposed protectionism and unilateral economic measures, supported a stronger multilateral trading system and called for reforms that would increase the voice of developing countries. At the same time, members avoided turning the summit into a unified ideological platform, relying instead on consensus language broad enough to accommodate competing interests.

Xi’s second summit intervention on September 13 placed a “people-centred” development philosophy within a wider call for Global South cooperation. He urged progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, improvements to global climate governance and a consensus-based framework for governing artificial intelligence.

China’s approach also carries strategic implications. Beijing has increasingly used BRICS and other multilateral forums to promote its views on development, sovereignty and global governance. Some members share its criticism of unequal representation in international institutions, while others remain cautious about allowing BRICS to become identified with any single country’s geopolitical agenda.

The BG-5 Golden Dragon Fish was demonstrated at the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services, held at Shougang Park from September 9 to 13. Developed by Boyagongdao Marine Technology Group, the robot is designed to resemble a golden arowana and propel itself through water with a flexible, multi-joint tail rather than a conventional propeller.

The machine can detect obstacles and adjust its route autonomously instead of following only a fixed, pre-programmed path, according to information released by the developer and statements made at the exhibition. Its fish-like movement is intended to improve manoeuvrability while giving the platform a less conspicuous profile than many conventional underwater vehicles.

Boyagongdao lists the BG-5 as a 640-millimetre-long robot weighing about 3 kilograms. The published specifications give it a maximum operating depth of 5 metres and a top speed of 0.6 metres per second. The company says infrared recognition supports autonomous obstacle avoidance, while wireless communications allow online debugging and control.

The manufacturer also offers a BG-5V configuration that combines the robotic fish with a software platform for more advanced experiments. The listed capabilities include global and local path planning, task allocation, formation control, cooperative transport and coordinated operations involving multiple robots.

Those functions broaden the possible uses beyond a single demonstration unit. Groups of small robotic fish could, in principle, divide an underwater area for inspection or monitoring, maintain formations and coordinate tasks in locations where larger vehicles would be harder to deploy. The company presents the platform for research and teaching as well as operational fields including search and salvage, hydropower, safety and rescue and national defence.

Claims that the robot has been formally deployed as an underwater surveillance system have not been substantiated by publicly available official information. The specifications and the developer’s stated defence-related work show that reconnaissance or monitoring applications are technically plausible, but the model displayed at CIFTIS was presented as a biomimetic robotic platform rather than as an announced military deployment.

Boyagongdao says its bionic robot series draws on more than a decade of research associated with Peking University’s College of Engineering. The systems use high-speed biomimetic drive mechanisms and central pattern generator control algorithms intended to reproduce the smooth, rhythmic movement of aquatic animals.

The company has also disclosed work on defence-oriented underwater technology. Its website says technologies developed for military-related directions have been adapted for higher education products, and company material from earlier exhibitions describes unmanned and intelligent underwater equipment as an area of military development. It has separately publicised the ROBO-SHARK, a larger shark-inspired underwater robot developed with a military unit.

The BG-5 itself is not a newly created model. Boyagongdao had displayed the robotic fish before this month’s services trade fair and promoted it earlier this year at Beijing technology events. The latest CIFTIS appearance nevertheless drew renewed attention because of the machine’s autonomous obstacle avoidance and increasingly realistic biomimetic movement.

China’s work on underwater robotics extends well beyond fish-shaped machines. Universities, research institutes and commercial groups are developing autonomous systems for coral monitoring, infrastructure inspection, marine ranching, emergency rescue and deep-sea research. Some platforms are designed to carry cameras, sonar or environmental sensors, while others use robotic arms for intervention tasks.

A separate ecological-monitoring deployment in Hangzhou has used biomimetic robotic fish to patrol West Lake, measuring indicators including water temperature and pH, detecting invasive species and transmitting data to monitoring centres. Other Chinese underwater robots have been used for reef observation and for identifying and removing crown-of-thorns starfish.

The BG-5 demonstration at CIFTIS focused on embodied intelligence underwater, where navigation software, sensing and propulsion are integrated into a machine that moves more like a living animal than a standard remotely operated vehicle.

EPFO announced the channel through its official account on X, sharing a direct joining link and QR code. The channel had more than 83,000 followers by Tuesday, reflecting early uptake among members seeking alerts on schemes, procedures, service changes and public notices.

The new channel, however, should not be confused with a transactional WhatsApp service. EPFO’s own digital platforms show that personal services such as checking an individual provident fund balance, viewing a passbook, filing claims or tracking claim status continue to be provided through authorised channels including the Member Passbook portal, Unified Member Portal and the UMANG application. The WhatsApp channel is designed primarily to broadcast information rather than display confidential account data.

That distinction is important because some descriptions circulating online have suggested that members can directly check balances or access account-specific information through the new channel. EPFO’s published service framework does not support that interpretation. The organisation separately offers balance enquiries by missed call and SMS for eligible members whose Universal Account Number, or UAN, is linked to the required records.

Members registered on the UAN portal can obtain their last contribution and provident fund balance by giving a missed call to 9966044425 from the mobile number registered with EPFO, provided the UAN is linked with at least one prescribed know-your-customer detail such as a bank account, Aadhaar or PAN. EPFO’s passbook portal also lists an SMS option using the format “EPFOHO UAN” with the relevant language code sent to 7738299899.

For a fuller range of services, EPFO directs members to UMANG. Official guidance lists facilities there including viewing the passbook, filing online claims, tracking claims, activating or obtaining a UAN, submitting Jeevan Pramaan and downloading a Pension Payment Order. The Unified Member Portal provides additional account and member functions after authentication.

The WhatsApp channel therefore expands EPFO’s communications reach rather than replacing those existing systems. Followers can receive official notices on a platform already used by millions of people for everyday messaging, potentially reducing dependence on users repeatedly checking websites or social media accounts for updates.

EPFO has increasingly used multiple digital channels to communicate with members and employers, including its website, X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Its employer portal currently directs users to those official accounts for news and updates, while its member-facing portals continue to handle authenticated services.

Members can follow a WhatsApp channel without exposing their phone number to other followers, but that privacy feature does not turn the channel into an authenticated account interface. Balance checks, claims and passbook access still require EPFO’s designated systems, where identity and account credentials are handled through verification processes.

The expansion also comes with a need for caution over impersonation and fraud. EPFO repeatedly warns members not to disclose Aadhaar numbers, PAN details, bank information, passwords, UAN credentials or one-time passwords in response to calls, messages, WhatsApp contacts or social media approaches. Its anti-fraud portal states that EPFO staff do not seek such personal or financial details through these channels.

Members joining the WhatsApp channel should therefore verify that they are using the link or QR code shared through EPFO’s official communication channels. A WhatsApp broadcast channel does not require users to send credentials to receive public updates, and any request for sensitive account information should be treated with suspicion.

For members who only want to stay informed about policy changes, deadlines, service interruptions or procedural guidance, the channel provides a convenient additional source. Those seeking personal account details must still use the authenticated EPFO systems or designated balance-enquiry services.