China’s tech leaders have a thing for strange stage props

Big, smooth, and with a lot of LED lights—Chinese tech leaders really seem to like to touch balls during opening ceremonies and other events. There’s nothing that screams “technology” more than a sphere full of laser lights.

Of course, big balls are not the only thing that gets touched while posing for photos. Some companies have experimented with cubes, helms, and other odd objects. Pouring sand over the company logo is another quirky trend in China’s professional events choreography.

The latest fashion seems to be going towards more rectangular shapes. Both Didi and the new AI research lab led by Chinese venture capitalist Kai-fu Lee were so impressed by this shiny blue platform that they just decided to switch the name and recycle it. Honestly, we couldn’t think of a better way to describe artificial intelligence either. There’s nothing that represents robots better than the lack of creativity.

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