Yang Zhilin, founder of Moonshot AI, has successfully retained one of China’s most formidable AI research teams, a notable feat in a brutal talent competition. The Beijing-based startup, which employs around 80 people and raised $60 million in March 2023, is preparing to launch the Kimi K3 model in July 2026, positioning itself as a direct competitor to leading US AI systems. The advancement comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions, with US officials raising concerns about the company’s technology acquisition practices. Despite regulatory scrutiny, Moonshot is reportedly exploring a Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing in 2026, with a potential valuation of approximately $30 billion.
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