Top AI Developments Around the World – December 26, 2025
As the year 2025 draws to a close, artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, redefine innovation, and spark global conversations. Here are five of the most significant AI-related developments reported internationally on December 26, 2025:
1. Beijing Emerges as a Global Hub for Humanoid Robotics
China’s capital is now home to over 30 humanoid robot companies, positioning Beijing at the forefront of the global robotics race. Leading firms such as Galaxy General, Songyan Power, and Xingdong Jiyuan are driving advancements in embodied AI. The city also hosts key national infrastructure, including the National Robot Standards Committee and state-level testing platforms, reinforcing its role as an innovation epicenter.
“Beijing’s ecosystem combines research excellence with commercial scalability,” noted Jiang Hongchao, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology.
2. Global Markets Brace for AI Investment Reckoning in 2026
According to Goldman Sachs’ top tech trader Peter Callahan, investor focus is shifting from hardware hype to measurable AI ROI. While the Nasdaq-100 rose over 20% in 2025, concerns about market concentration and sustainability are mounting. Analysts warn that 2026 will test whether AI-driven valuations reflect real productivity gains—or speculative bubbles.
“The era of ‘easy wins’ in AI stocks may be over,” Callahan stated in his year-end outlook.
3. Japan Joins Next-Gen AI Memory Consortium Led by SoftBank
In a strategic move to bolster domestic AI infrastructure, Fujitsu has joined SoftBank’s next-generation AI memory initiative, aimed at developing high-bandwidth, energy-efficient memory architectures tailored for large language models. This collaboration signals Japan’s intensified push to reduce reliance on foreign semiconductor supply chains and accelerate sovereign AI capabilities.
4. AI Talent Shortage Intensifies Across Global Retail Sector
A new report by the China Chain Store & Franchise Association reveals a critical shortage of AI-skilled professionals in the retail industry. Demand for roles like AI marketing specialists and data analysts exceeds supply by more than 30% among leading chains. As brick-and-mortar stores digitize operations, the gap between AI adoption and workforce readiness is becoming a major bottleneck.
5. Black Sesame Smart Launches Commercial Robot Platform with Proven Revenue
Chinese AI chipmaker Black Sesame Smart unveiled its SesameX™ Multidimensional Embodied Intelligence Platform, featuring three core modules: Kalos (vision-driven), Aura (sensor-control synergy), and Liora (cognitive evolution). Notably, the company confirmed that its robotics division—launched in late 2024—has already generated revenue through deployments in logistics vehicles and quadruped robots, marking a rare case of early commercialization in the general-purpose robotics space.
“This isn’t a pivot—it’s a natural extension of our AI compute vision,” said CMO Yang Yuxin.
As we approach 2026, these developments underscore a pivotal shift: AI is evolving from a tool into a collaborative partner—in factories, boardrooms, and even creative studios. The world is not just building smarter machines; it’s reimagining how humans and intelligent systems co-create the future.