Technology
iHuman Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2023 Unaudited Financial Results
Published
2 years agoon
By
BEIJING, Feb. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — iHuman Inc. (NYSE: IH) (“iHuman” or the “Company”), a leading provider of tech-powered, intellectual development products in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights
Revenues were RMB250.4 million (US$35.3 million), compared with RMB260.7 million in the same period last year.Gross profit was RMB178.2 million (US$25.1 million), compared with RMB181.0 million in the same period last year.Operating income was RMB21.9 million (US$3.1 million), compared with RMB39.1 million in the same period last year.Net income was RMB33.3 million (US$4.7 million), compared with RMB35.4 million in the same period last year.Average total MAUs[1] reached a record-high of 25.38 million, a year-over-year increase of 14.2%.
Fiscal Year 2023 Highlights
Revenues were RMB1,018.1 million (US$143.4 million), compared with RMB985.5 million in fiscal year 2022.Gross profit was RMB721.3 million (US$101.6 million), compared with RMB691.2 million in fiscal year 2022.Operating income was RMB159.9 million (US$22.5 million), compared with RMB111.6 million in fiscal year 2022.Net income was RMB180.9 million (US$25.5 million), compared with RMB109.8 million in fiscal year 2022.Average total MAUs were 23.04 million, a year-over-year increase of 16.0%.
[1] “Average total MAUs” refers to the monthly average of the sum of the MAUs of each of the Company’s apps during a specific period, which is counted based on the number of unique mobile devices through which such app is accessed at least once in a given month, and duplicate access to different apps is not eliminated from the total MAUs calculation.
[2] “Paying users” refers to users who paid subscription fees for premium content on any of the Company’s apps during a specific period; a user who makes payments across different apps using the same registered account is counted as one paying user, and a user who makes payments for the same app multiple times in the same period is counted as one paying user.
Dr. Peng Dai, Director and Chief Executive Officer of iHuman, commented, “As we look back on 2023, I am truly inspired by the accomplishments that we have achieved, especially considering the decline in China’s newborn population over the past few years. In response to the challenges posed by the declining birth rate, we have been actively expanding our presence in the international markets, diversifying our product portfolio, and developing products that cover a broader age demographic. These strategic efforts have helped us achieve remarkable progress. For instance, our globally-oriented app, Aha World, delivered impressive performance in 2023. By the end of the year, its YouTube and TikTok accounts collectively attracted over 200 million views. It also earned YouTube’s Silver Creator Award and rose to rank among the top three most popular children’s apps on the U.S. Apple app store in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, our flagship product, iHuman Chinese, has consistently held the No.1 spot in the top-grossing category for children’s apps on the Apple app store in China for iPad users for nearly 4.5 years, according to Appfigures, a reputable American data analytics company. This past year has been marked by revenue growth and sustained profitability, and we once again set a new record for average total MAUs in the fourth quarter which further solidified our position as an industry leader.”
“We are also thrilled to announce the acquisition of intellectual property assets related to “Cosmicrew” from Kunpeng, an animation production studio within the Perfect World Group. This strategic acquisition is expected to generate significant synergies with our business. Firstly, “Cosmicrew” is a popular cartoon adventure series that has established a strong presence in the children’s entertainment sector. The light-hearted and delightful nature of this cartoon IP seamlessly compliments our overall product style and aesthetic. With the IP already integrated into some of our products before the acquisition, we now have greater autonomy over our creative content. In addition, we now can expand our product range further by developing additional IP offerings and derivatives, including animations, toys, and more. At the market level, “Cosmicrew” is a popular cartoon with a large audience base, and this acquisition will enable us to further extend our market reach and engage with a broader audience.”
“As we continue to progress on our strategic initiatives, we remain fully dedicated to strengthening our core competencies through ongoing product enhancement. We have been enriching the content and functionality of our app products to elevate the digital experience of our users and have made further strides in integrating our online and offline offerings to create a more immersive and holistic journey for users. For example, we rolled out both multi-leveled physical books and a specially developed smart reading pen that complement our leveled English reading app, iHuman Fantastic Friends. This combination allows kids to explore captivating original English stories tailored to their proficiency level in physical and digital formats, offering them a flexible and simple reading experience while enhancing their understanding and engagement with the content.”
“In 2023, we further strengthened our comprehensive product suite, significantly expanded our international presence, and earned increased market recognition with several prestigious industry accolades. We achieved all these milestones despite a highly volatile and challenging macroeconomic climate, which I believe is a testament to the caliber of our products, the effectiveness of our strategies, and the resilience of our team in overcoming diverse economic challenges. As we enter 2024, I am filled with anticipation for the continued success that lies ahead.”
Ms. Vivien Weiwei Wang, Director and Chief Financial Officer of iHuman, added, “Our fourth quarter results ended 2023 on a positive note despite a turbulent global economic environment. While our fourth quarter results saw a marginal decrease year-over-year, it reflected a normalization from the exceptional fourth quarter performance last year, which was caused by a heightened demand driven by more indoor activities during the pandemic. From a full year perspective in 2023, despite the fact that everybody shifted back to regular routines and spent less time at home after the pandemic, we still achieved satisfactory growth as both revenues and MAUs increased compared to fiscal year 2022. We are also proud to announce our eighth consecutive quarter of profitability, with annual net income reaching RMB180.9 million. This achievement marks our second straight year of profitability since our IPO in 2020 and demonstrates that we have successfully charted a path of healthy and sustainable growth. The momentum we have sustained in our business operations has further solidified our financial position, which not only bolsters our capacity for ongoing growth and innovation, but also enables us to enhance returns to our shareholders through issuing a special cash dividend of US$0.02 per ordinary share, or US$0.10 per ADS. The approval of the special dividend by our board of directors reflects our confidence in our long-term growth potential and strong balance sheet. Moving forward, we will continue to execute on our strategic priorities and maintain a growth-oriented approach to create even greater value for our users and shareholders.”
Fourth Quarter 2023 Unaudited Financial Results
Revenues
Revenues were RMB250.4 million (US$35.3 million), compared with RMB260.7 million in the same period last year.
Average total MAUs for the quarter were 25.38 million, an increase of 14.2% year-over-year from 22.22 million in the same period last year. The number of paying users[2] was 1.45 million.
Cost of Revenues
Cost of revenues was RMB72.2 million (US$10.2 million), a decrease of 9.4% from RMB79.7 million in the same period last year, primarily due to decreased channel costs.
Gross Profit and Gross Margin
Gross profit was RMB178.2 million (US$25.1 million), compared with RMB181.0 million in the same period last year. Gross margin was 71.2%, compared with 69.4% in the same period last year.
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses were RMB156.4 million (US$22.0 million), an increase of 10.2% from RMB141.9 million in the same period last year.
Research and development expenses were RMB66.3 million (US$9.3 million), compared with RMB66.8 million in the same period last year.
Sales and marketing expenses were RMB64.5 million (US$9.1 million), an increase of 40.8% from RMB45.8 million in the same period last year, primarily due to increased strategic spending on promotional activities and brand enhancement.
General and administrative expenses were RMB25.5 million (US$3.6 million), a decrease of 12.7% from RMB29.3 million in the same period last year, primarily due to payroll related cost-savings and other decreased expenses as a result of the continued optimization of our operational efficiency.
Operating Income
Operating income was RMB21.9 million (US$3.1 million), compared with RMB39.1 million in the same period last year.
Net Income
Net income was RMB33.3 million (US$4.7 million), compared with RMB35.4 million in the same period last year.
Basic and diluted net income per ADS were RMB0.63 (US$0.09) and RMB0.61 (US$0.09), respectively, compared with RMB0.67 and RMB0.66 in the same period last year. Each ADS represents five Class A ordinary shares of the Company.
Deferred Revenue and Customer Advances
Deferred revenue and customer advances were RMB318.6 million (US$44.9 million) as of December 31, 2023, compared with RMB379.1 million as of December 31, 2022.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents were RMB1,213.8 million (US$171.0 million) as of December 31, 2023, compared with RMB1,050.0 million as of December 31, 2022.
Fiscal Year 2023 Unaudited Financial Results
Revenues
Revenues were RMB1,018.1 million (US$143.4 million), an increase of 3.3% from RMB985.5 million in fiscal year 2022.
Average total MAUs were 23.04 million, an increase of 16.0% year-over-year from 19.86 million in fiscal year 2022. The number of paying users for the year was 4.27 million.
Cost of Revenues
Cost of revenues was RMB296.9 million (US$41.8 million), compared with RMB294.3 million in fiscal year 2022.
Gross Profit and Gross Margin
Gross profit was RMB721.3 million (US$101.6 million), an increase of 4.4% from RMB691.2 million in fiscal year 2022. Gross margin was 70.8%, compared with 70.1% in fiscal year 2022.
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses were RMB561.4 million (US$79.1 million), a decrease of 3.1% from RMB579.6 million in fiscal year 2022.
Research and development expenses were RMB257.5 million (US$36.3 million), a decrease of 17.8% from RMB313.5 million in fiscal year 2022, primarily due to cost savings in payroll-related expenses and outsourcing expenses.
Sales and marketing expenses were RMB199.5 million (US$28.1 million), an increase of 27.1% from RMB156.9 million in fiscal year 2022, primarily due to increased strategic spending on promotional activities and brand enhancement.
General and administrative expenses were RMB104.3 million (US$14.7 million), a decrease of 4.5% from RMB109.2 million in fiscal year 2022.
Operating Income
Operating income was RMB159.9 million (US$22.5 million), compared with RMB111.6 million in fiscal year 2022.
Net Income
Net income was RMB180.9 million (US$25.5 million), compared with RMB109.8 million in fiscal year 2022.
Basic and diluted net income per ADS were RMB3.43 (US$0.48) and RMB3.30 (US$0.46), respectively, compared with RMB2.06 and RMB2.03 in fiscal year 2022. Each ADS represents five Class A ordinary shares of the Company.
Special Cash Dividend
To deliver return of capital to shareholders, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) approved a special cash dividend of US$0.02 per ordinary share, or US$0.10 per ADS, to holders of ordinary shares and holders of ADSs as of the close of business on March 28, 2024 New York Time, payable in U.S. dollars. The aggregate amount of the special dividend will be approximately US$5.3 million. The payment date is expected to be on or around May 8, 2024 and May 15, 2024 for holders of ordinary shares and holders of ADSs, respectively.
Acquisition of IP Assets
The Company, through one of its consolidated affiliated entities, entered into an asset transfer agreement (the “Asset Transfer Agreement”) with Kunpeng, an animation production studio within the Perfect World Group (the “Transferors”). Pursuant to the Asset Transfer Agreement, the Company will acquire intellectual property assets related to “Cosmicrew” from Kunpeng, including copyrights and trademarks, among others, for a total consideration of RMB64.0 million. The consideration of the transaction was determined with the assistance of an independent third-party valuation firm. As the Transferors are related parties of the Company, the transaction has been approved by the Board and the audit committee of the Board, and is subject to customary closing conditions.
Exchange Rate Information
The U.S. dollar (US$) amounts disclosed in this press release, except for those transaction amounts that were actually settled in U.S. dollars, are presented solely for the convenience of the reader. The conversion of Renminbi (RMB) into US$ in this press release is based on the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as of December 29, 2023, which was RMB7.0999 to US$1.00. The percentages stated in this press release are calculated based on the RMB amounts.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
iHuman considers and uses non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted operating income, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per ADS, as supplemental metrics in reviewing and assessing its operating performance and formulating its business plan. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). iHuman defines adjusted operating income, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per ADS as operating income, net income and diluted net income per ADS excluding share-based compensation expenses, respectively. Adjusted operating income, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per ADS enable iHuman’s management to assess its operating results without considering the impact of share-based compensation expenses, which are non-cash charges. iHuman believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors in understanding and evaluating the Company’s current operating performance and prospects in the same manner as management does, if they so choose.
Non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP and are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, which possibly do not reflect all items of expense that affect our operations. Share-based compensation expenses have been and may continue to be incurred in our business and are not reflected in the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures. In addition, the non-GAAP financial measures iHuman uses may differ from the non-GAAP measures used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about iHuman’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Among other things, the description of the management’s quotations in this announcement contains forward-looking statements. iHuman may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: iHuman’s growth strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; its ability to continue to attract and retain users, convert non-paying users into paying users and increase the spending of paying users, the trends in, and size of, the market in which iHuman operates; its expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its products and services; its expectations regarding its relationships with business partners; general economic and business conditions; regulatory environment; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in iHuman’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and iHuman does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
About iHuman Inc.
iHuman Inc. is a leading provider of tech-powered, intellectual development products in China that is committed to making the child-upbringing experience easier for parents and transforming intellectual development into a fun journey for children. Benefiting from a deep legacy that combines over two decades of experience in the parenthood industry, superior original content, advanced high-tech innovation DNA and research & development capabilities with cutting-edge technologies, iHuman empowers parents with tools to make the child-upbringing experience more efficient. iHuman’s unique, fun and interactive product offerings stimulate children’s natural curiosity and exploration. The Company’s comprehensive suite of innovative and high-quality products include self-directed apps, interactive content and smart devices that cover a broad variety of areas to develop children’s abilities in speaking, critical thinking, independent reading and creativity, and foster their natural interest in traditional Chinese culture. Leveraging advanced technological capabilities, including 3D engines, AI/AR functionality, and big data analysis on children’s behavior & psychology, iHuman believes it will continue to provide superior experience that is efficient and relieving for parents, and effective and fun for children, in China and all over the world, through its integrated suite of tech-powered, intellectual development products.
For more information about iHuman, please visit https://ir.ihuman.com/.
For investor and media enquiries, please contact:
iHuman Inc.
Mr. Justin Zhang
Investor Relations Director
Phone: +86 10 5780-6606
E-mail: ir@ihuman.com
Christensen
In China
Ms. Alice Li
Phone: +86-10-5900-1548
E-mail: alice.li@christensencomms.com
In the US
Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Phone: +1-480-614-3004
E-mail: linda.bergkamp@christensencomms.com
iHuman Inc.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”)
except for number of shares, ADSs, per share and per ADS data)
December 31,
December 31,
December 31,
2022
2023
2023
RMB
RMB
US$
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
1,049,999
1,213,767
170,956
Accounts receivable, net
79,614
60,832
8,568
Inventories, net
19,127
16,518
2,327
Amounts due from related parties
2,286
1,810
255
Prepayments and other current assets
102,765
89,511
12,607
Total current assets
1,253,791
1,382,438
194,713
Non-current assets
Property and equipment, net
9,205
6,169
869
Intangible assets, net
24,872
23,245
3,274
Operating lease right-of-use assets
12,782
3,648
514
Long-term investment
26,333
26,333
3,709
Other non-current assets
6,416
8,662
1,218
Total non-current assets
79,608
68,057
9,584
Total assets
1,333,399
1,450,495
204,297
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Accounts payable
24,206
22,139
3,118
Deferred revenue and customer advances
379,063
318,587
44,872
Amounts due to related parties
6,944
4,428
624
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
144,717
143,677
20,236
Current operating lease liabilities
6,123
1,927
271
Total current liabilities
561,053
490,758
69,121
Non-current liabilities
Non-current operating lease liabilities
2,894
1,933
272
Total non-current liabilities
2,894
1,933
272
Total liabilities
563,947
492,691
69,393
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Ordinary shares (par value of US$0.0001 per share,
700,000,000 Class A shares authorized as of
December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2023;
125,122,382 Class A shares issued and 121,722,467
outstanding as of December 31, 2022; 125,122,382
Class A shares issued and 119,704,787 outstanding as
of December 31, 2023; 200,000,000 Class B shares
authorized, 144,000,000 Class B ordinary shares
issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and
December 31, 2023; 100,000,000 shares
(undesignated) authorized, nil shares (undesignated)
issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and
December 31, 2023)
185
185
26
Additional paid-in capital
1,079,099
1,088,628
153,330
Treasury stock
(7,123)
(16,665)
(2,347)
Statutory reserves
7,967
8,164
1,150
Accumulated other comprehensive income
10,497
17,955
2,529
Accumulated deficit
(321,173)
(140,463)
(19,784)
Total shareholders’ equity
769,452
957,804
134,904
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
1,333,399
1,450,495
204,297
iHuman Inc.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”)
except for number of shares, ADSs, per share and per ADS data)
For the three months ended
For the year ended
December 31,
September 30,
December 31,
December 31,
December 31,
December 31,
December 31,
2022
2023
2023
2023
2022
2023
2023
RMB
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
RMB
US$
Revenues
260,704
261,496
250,447
35,275
985,517
1,018,139
143,402
Cost of revenues
(79,707)
(74,871)
(72,201)
(10,169)
(294,343)
(296,868)
(41,813)
Gross profit
180,997
186,625
178,246
25,106
691,174
721,271
101,589
Operating expenses
Research and development expenses
(66,796)
(66,168)
(66,293)
(9,337)
(313,481)
(257,546)
(36,275)
Sales and marketing expenses
(45,811)
(53,994)
(64,511)
(9,086)
(156,916)
(199,504)
(28,100)
General and administrative expenses
(29,253)
(26,070)
(25,547)
(3,598)
(109,195)
(104,334)
(14,695)
Total operating expenses
(141,860)
(146,232)
(156,351)
(22,021)
(579,592)
(561,384)
(79,070)
Operating income
39,137
40,393
21,895
3,085
111,582
159,887
22,519
Other income, net
5,315
19,507
8,965
1,263
21,190
42,686
6,012
Income before income taxes
44,452
59,900
30,860
4,348
132,772
202,573
28,531
Income tax (expenses) / benefits
(9,019)
(7,984)
2,411
340
(22,953)
(21,666)
(3,052)
Net income
35,433
51,916
33,271
4,688
109,819
180,907
25,479
Net income per ADS:
– Basic
0.67
0.98
0.63
0.09
2.06
3.43
0.48
– Diluted
0.66
0.95
0.61
0.09
2.03
3.30
0.46
Weighted average number of ADSs:
– Basic
53,205,925
52,747,426
52,740,067
52,740,067
53,307,044
52,810,587
52,810,587
– Diluted
54,033,560
54,772,536
54,753,503
54,753,503
54,040,908
54,753,025
54,753,025
Total share-based compensation expenses included in:
Cost of revenues
168
67
64
9
348
299
42
Research and development expenses
2,564
1,160
1,115
157
6,377
4,055
571
Sales and marketing expenses
559
147
122
17
1,599
707
100
General and administrative expenses
1,757
1,105
817
115
4,720
4,374
616
iHuman Inc.
UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS
(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”)
except for number of shares, ADSs, per share and per ADS data)
For the three months ended
For the year ended
December 31,
September 30,
December 31,
December 31,
December 31,
December 31,
December 31,
2022
2023
2023
2023
2022
2023
2023
RMB
RMB
RMB
US$
RMB
RMB
US$
Operating income
39,137
40,393
21,895
3,085
111,582
159,887
22,519
Share-based compensation expenses
5,048
2,479
2,118
298
13,044
9,435
1,329
Adjusted operating income
44,185
42,872
24,013
3,383
124,626
169,322
23,848
Net income
35,433
51,916
33,271
4,688
109,819
180,907
25,479
Share-based compensation expenses
5,048
2,479
2,118
298
13,044
9,435
1,329
Adjusted net income
40,481
54,395
35,389
4,986
122,863
190,342
26,808
Diluted net income per ADS
0.66
0.95
0.61
0.09
2.03
3.30
0.46
Impact of non-GAAP adjustments
0.09
0.04
0.04
0.00
0.24
0.18
0.03
Adjusted diluted net income per ADS
0.75
0.99
0.65
0.09
2.27
3.48
0.49
Weighted average number of ADSs – diluted
54,033,560
54,772,536
54,753,503
54,753,503
54,040,908
54,753,025
54,753,025
Weighted average number of ADSs – adjusted
54,033,560
54,772,536
54,753,503
54,753,503
54,040,908
54,753,025
54,753,025
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ihuman-inc-announces-fourth-quarter-and-fiscal-year-2023-unaudited-financial-results-302075140.html
SOURCE iHuman Inc.
You may like
Technology
Black Lake Technologies Shortlisted as SAIL Award TOP30 Finalist and Selected as Global Industrial AI Flagship Case, Showcasing Latest Industrial Agent at WAIC 2026
Published
59 minutes agoon
July 18, 2026By
SHANGHAI, July 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) opened in Shanghai on July 17. Shanghai Blacklake Technologies Co., Ltd. (“Black Lake”), an industrial AI company, is showcasing a portfolio of industrial AI agents at the conference. The company has also been named to the Top 30 shortlist for the 2026 WAIC Super AI Leader (SAIL) Award and selected as a Trusted Partner under the Global Call for Trusted Partners for Industrial AI in the Global South.
The accreditations highlight Black Lake’s latest progress in bringing AI into critical manufacturing decision-making workflows and deploying industrial AI capabilities on the shop floor around the world.
This year’s conference attracted over 1,100 exhibiting companies and showcased more than 3,000 exhibits, setting a new record for exhibition scale. The conference delivered a clear signal: as artificial intelligence becomes a common priority across global industries, attention is moving beyond model capabilities toward practical applications in real-world operating environments.
Manufacturing provides a particularly demanding test for this transition. Factory operations are governed by multiple constraints, including process specifications, equipment capabilities, material availability, production capacity, delivery schedules and quality requirements. Therefore, AI has to do so much more than simply comprehend information input. It must make reliable judgments within clearly defined business rules and operational constraints.
Black Lake has focused on industrial digitalization and industrial AI for years, developing and deploying AI applications in a range of factory environments.
At WAIC 2026, the company is presenting industrial AI agents covering order splitting and process planning, quotation and pricing, procurement, production scheduling, quality inspection, and order tracking. These applications are designed to move AI beyond an auxiliary role and into critical manufacturing decision-making workflows.
Traditional industrial software is primarily responsible for data recording, digital workflows, and worker coordination. However, critical decisions such as how to split an order, determine pricing, schedule production, and assess quality risks still depend heavily on the experience of engineers and frontline workers.
Industrial AI agents are intended to convert fragmented industrial knowledge and production experience into decision-making capabilities that can be invoked, reused and continuously refined by software systems.
Order decomposition and process planning are representative examples. After receiving an engineering drawing, a factory typically relies on experienced engineers to identify components, materials and dimensions, define the required manufacturing processes and technical specifications, and establish a basis for subsequent quotation and quality inspection.
The process is highly dependent on individual expertise and represents one of the first critical decision points after an order is received.
Black Lake Technologies’ CAD-to-Process Agent can understand product drawings and, taking into account the factory’s equipment capabilities, process requirements, and production practices, rapidly generate process steps along with the corresponding technical requirements. Drawing analysis that once took hours can now be completed in approximately one minute, achieving an accuracy rate of over 95% in real deployment and providing engineers with stable, efficient decision support. Currently, the industrial agents developed by the company cover core processes including design, scheduling, production, and quality inspection, and have entered the stage of large-scale deployment.
Founded in 2016, Black Lake serves nearly 40,000 factories worldwide. Its customers span more than 30 industries, including food and beverage, automotive components and equipment manufacturing.
By working across factory order management, production and fulfillment workflows, Black Lake has accumulated the technical capabilities and industry knowledge required to support decision-making in complex industrial environments.
In April 2026, Black Lake completed a Series D funding round of nearly RMB 1 billion. The company said the proceeds would primarily be used to accelerate the deployment of its industrial AI products and support its international expansion.
AI-related products are becoming a new source of growth for the company. In a recent interview, Black Lake founder and CEO Zhou Yuxiang said that the company had recorded significant growth in AI-related revenue since the beginning of 2026. He also said that manufacturing customers were taking less time to make purchasing decisions for industrial AI agents.
Zhou expects AI adoption among Chinese factories to increase substantially over the next three to four years.
Unlike consumer-facing AI, which is primarily associated with content generation and personal productivity, industrial AI agents can directly affect production costs, capacity utilization, delivery performance, and product quality. Their commercial value therefore depends largely on whether they can perform specific tasks reliably in complex production environments.
During WAIC 2026, Black Lake was named to the Top 30 shortlist for the 2026 Super AI Leader (SAIL) Award. The SAIL Award is one of WAIC’s major awards and recognizes achievements in technological breakthroughs, application innovation, and industrial value.
Black Lake was also selected as a Trusted Partner under UNIDO’s Global Call for Trusted Partners for Industrial AI in the Global South.
The Global Call was launched under the guidance of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in partnership with the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, and in connection with the work of UNIDO AIM Global and its Shanghai-based Centre of Excellence.
The initiative aims to build a curated pool of leading partners to co-develop scalable industrial AI solutions and public goods for the Global South.
For Black Lake, the two accreditations underscore the growing importance of reliability, explainability, and scalability in the evaluation of industrial AI, in addition to the capabilities of AI models.
Global expansion will be a major priority in the company’s next phase of development. Black Lake is currently focusing on Southeast Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, adapting its industrial AI agents to the industrial structures, production processes and management requirements of different markets.
Although manufacturing operations vary across countries and regions, manufacturers share similar concerns about efficiency, quality, delivery reliability and production flexibility.
Black Lake is transforming industrial AI capabilities that have been validated in complex factory environments into configurable and deployable products. Through these products, the company aims to work with manufacturers worldwide to explore more efficient, flexible and intelligent approaches to production.
SOURCE Black Lake
Technology
76% of Coupon Codes Work at Checkout, but Most Failures Trace Back to Terms Shoppers Never Read, CouponDopa Study Finds
Published
2 hours agoon
July 18, 2026By
Study Finds 76% of Coupon Codes Work at Checkout
NEW YORK, July 18, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Multi-country research across 11 regions finds that most coupon code failures were not due to expired codes, but to terms and conditions shoppers did not check before checkout.
A new study testing 1,000 coupon codes across 11 countries found that three in four online discount codes applied successfully at checkout, while the remaining failures were tied more often to unmet terms than to expired or invalid codes.
The research was conducted by CouponDopa, a multi-regional coupon platform operating in 11 countries. Codes were tested across multiple retail categories in July 2026 to measure real checkout success rates.
KEY FINDINGS
Overall success rate: 76%. Overall failure rate: 24%. Highest-performing country: Netherlands, 81%. Lowest-performing countries: Poland and Italy, tied at 70%. Highest-performing category: Electronics. Lowest-performing category: Travel. Desktop success rate: 78%. Mobile success rate: 74%.
The study’s most significant finding was not the failure rate itself, but the reasons behind it.
“The assumption most shoppers make is that a coupon code doesn’t work because it’s expired,” said Anderson Joe, CMO at CouponDopa. “Our testing found that expiry was rarely the primary issue. In most failed attempts, the code was still active, but the shopper’s cart did not meet a listed condition, such as a minimum spend or a region restriction.”
WHY COUPON CODES ACTUALLY FAIL
Minimum spend not met: the most common reason for failure across all 11 regions, since many codes require a basket value above a set threshold.Region-specific restrictions: codes valid in one country frequently failed in another.Unread terms and conditions: codes were applied to excluded categories, sale items, or specific product ranges without checking eligibility first.Delivery and shipping thresholds: free shipping codes requiring a minimum order value were sometimes mistaken for blanket offers.
No exact percentage breakdown of failure causes is available. Minimum spend is confirmed as the single most common cause; the other three were not ranked against each other.
“In our view, a code that fails because of an unmet minimum spend is not necessarily a broken code,” said Anderson. “It may simply be a condition the shopper did not see before checkout.”
REGIONAL FINDINGS — NETHERLANDS LEADS
Country Success Rate
Netherlands 81%
Germany 79%
United States 77%
Canada 77%
United Kingdom 76%
Australia 75%
New Zealand 74%
France 73%
Spain 72%
Poland 70%
Italy 70%
Netherlands recorded the highest success rate of the 11 regions tested. Germany followed closely. The United Kingdom matched the overall study average, and Canada and the United States recorded the same rate. Poland and Italy recorded the lowest rates in the study, tied at 70%.
ELECTRONICS OUTPERFORMS TRAVEL
Electronics recorded the highest coupon code success rate of any category tested, at 80%, while travel recorded the lowest, at 69%.
“Electronics codes in our sample tended to carry fewer conditions,” noted Anderson Joe. “Travel codes more often included conditions tied to dates, destinations, or booking windows, which may explain the difference.”
MOBILE SHOPPERS RECORD LOWER SUCCESS RATES
Desktop checkouts recorded a 78% success rate compared with 74% for mobile, a 4-point gap. Researchers said the difference may relate to how terms are displayed on smaller screens, though this was not directly tested.
“We saw a consistent gap between desktop and mobile across our markets,” said Anderson Joe. “We can’t say precisely why from this data alone, but it’s a pattern worth further study.”
ABOUT THE STUDY
CouponDopa tested 1,000 coupon codes across 11 countries during July 2026, across electronics, fashion, food delivery, travel, beauty, and home categories. Codes were manually tested at real checkouts on desktop and mobile. A code counted as successful only when the discount appeared in the checkout total. Failed codes were categorized by reason. Read the complete methodology available at CouponDopa tested 1000 coupon codes in 11 regions.
ABOUT COUPONDOPA
CouponDopa is a multi-regional coupon and discount platform operating across 11 countries. CouponDopa verifies coupon codes across hundreds of brands before publishing, providing shoppers with discount information across major retail categories, including verified codes available on CouponDopa’s store pages.
MEDIA CONTACT
Organization: Coupondopa
Contact Person Name: Anderson Joe
Website: https://www.coupondopa.com/
Email: info@coupondopa.com
Contact Number: +1 (530) 269-6377
Address: 165 ithaca Bayshore NY, 11706 USA
City: Bay Shore
State: NY
Country: United States
Media Contact
Anderson Joe, Coupondopa, 1 631 404-9968, coupondopa@gmail.com, https://www.coupondopa.com/
View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/76-of-coupon-codes-work-at-checkout-but-most-failures-trace-back-to-terms-shoppers-never-read-coupondopa-study-finds-302828186.html
SOURCE CouponDopa
Technology
Global Times: Head-of-state diplomacy shines at WAIC, fostering ties and advancing global governance consensus
Published
6 hours agoon
July 18, 2026By
BEIJING, July 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday held a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai, sitting down successively with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The bustling diplomatic activity transformed the WAIC from a premier showcase of AI technologies and industrial breakthroughs into a vibrant platform for head-of-state diplomacy and global governance coordination.
Analysts said hosting intensive head-of-state diplomatic events in Shanghai, a core hub of reform, opening-up and technological innovation, carries profound meaning. In addition, Friday’s high-level meetings embody the innovative model of “technology builds the stage while diplomacy takes the leading role.” It not only deepens China’s bilateral relations with ASEAN members, but also helps advance inclusive global AI governance centered on the UN mechanism.
Strategic guidance
According to the two separate official releases by Xinhua, during his meetings with the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia, President Xi spoke of the long-standing friendship China shares with both nations. He called on China and Thailand, as well as China and Cambodia, to join hands to advance the development of their respective communities with a shared future.
Furthermore, the Chinese leader stressed the need for China to expand pragmatic cooperation with Thailand and Cambodia respectively across traditional and emerging sectors, and work with each country to jointly crack down on cross-border crimes such as online gambling and telecom fraud, according to Xinhua.
He called for the proper handling of border frictions between Thailand and Cambodia and called on the two sides to resolve disputes through dialogue and consultation, with China standing ready to continue playing a constructive role in this regard, per Xinhua.
During their respective meetings with the Chinese leader, the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia both expressed willingness to deepen multi-field cooperation with China and spoke highly of China’s positive efforts to facilitate the peaceful settlement of the Thailand-Cambodia border conflicts.
Xu Liping, Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that head-of-state diplomacy has charted the fundamental course for the advancement of China’s ties with both Cambodia and Thailand.
WAIC exemplifies the innovative model of “technology builds the platform, while diplomacy takes the leading role,” said Xu, “In addition, AI cooperation is also expected to serve as a vital entry point to further deepen and substantiate China’s ties with Thailand and Cambodia going forward.”
Furthermore, addressing the sensitive and thorny Thailand-Cambodia border dispute amid the relatively relaxed atmosphere of a tech summit enables all relevant parties to handle differences in a rational and pragmatic manner, which embodies Eastern wisdom and an Asian approach to resolving issues, said Xu.
The year 2026 marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, witnessing the official rollout of the new Plan of Action on the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2026-2030). It also kicks off the implementation of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan.
The critical juncture offers a perfect window to align China’s development plans closely with the national development strategies of Global South countries and ASEAN members, said Xu. “Thailand and Cambodia’s willingness to ramp up cooperation with China mirrors the aspiration of the majority of ASEAN members to leverage China’s development dividends and pursue win-win outcomes and common prosperity in the region.”
Firm support for UN
In his meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday, Xi reiterated China’s firm support for the UN.
Noting that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China at the UN, the Chinese leader said China has since been committed to building world peace, contributing to global development, defending international order, and firmly supporting the UN, Xinhua reported.
Xi added that he proposed the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the four global initiatives with one important consideration in mind – to uphold the status and authority of the UN.
Currently, the international landscape is marked by more pronounced changes and turbulence, making it all the more necessary to practice true multilateralism and reinvigorate the status and role of the UN, he said.
Guterres commended China for its steadfast support for multilateralism, the cause of the UN, and international cooperation, saying that China has set an example for the world.
Guterres said the UN will continue to strengthen cooperation with China, oppose unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonic bullying, safeguard the UN Charter and international law, as well as advance the process toward a multipolar world.
At this pivotal juncture where talks on AI development and UN multilateral governance converge, China, leveraging head-of-state diplomacy as a top-tier platform, has elaborated in a systematic manner its vision for global governance in the AI era, Wang Yiwei, a professor at the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.
He added that China’s emphasis on the UN-centered global governance architecture will further strengthen the UN’s authority and operational capacity.
Before the official opening of the WAIC, on Thursday, representatives from 29 countries, including Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, Russia and Indonesia, signed an agreement on establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) in Shanghai. UN chief Guterres was among representatives from countries and international organizations present at the signing ceremony.
According to the agreement, WAICO will be an independent intergovernmental international organization, which aims to promote international cooperation and global governance on AI, ensuring that AI is beneficial, safe and fair, thereby promoting its healthy and orderly development to benefit all humanity.
President Xi on Friday also announced that in the next five years, China will provide developing countries with 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs. China will also develop international AI application cooperation centers with the ASEAN, the League of Arab States, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS.
However, some international media, including Reuters and Nikkei, used the term “AI diplomacy” describing the grand gathering in Shanghai, claiming that Beijing seeks a new global AI order, challenging US dominance.
In rebuttal, Wang pointed out that China advocates open, inclusive technology that lets AI benefit all humanity under the vision of “AI for All”. In contrast, the US adheres to a mindset of “All for AI”, weaponizing AI for geopolitical rivalry and aiming to outpace China in technological competition. Driven by the “America First” doctrine and capital-centric priorities, Washington’s approach forms a sharp contrast with China’s.
Meanwhile, China’s resolute commitment to upholding the UN system underscores that for China and a wide array of Global South countries, the sensible path lies in reforming and improving the existing global governance architecture rather than discarding it to build parallel institutions from scratch, the expert added.
This article first appeared on Global Times
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-times-head-of-state-diplomacy-shines-at-waic-fostering-ties-and-advancing-global-governance-consensus-302828946.html
SOURCE Global Times
Black Lake Technologies Shortlisted as SAIL Award TOP30 Finalist and Selected as Global Industrial AI Flagship Case, Showcasing Latest Industrial Agent at WAIC 2026
76% of Coupon Codes Work at Checkout, but Most Failures Trace Back to Terms Shoppers Never Read, CouponDopa Study Finds
Global Times: Head-of-state diplomacy shines at WAIC, fostering ties and advancing global governance consensus
Send Rakhi to UK swiftly with UK Gifts Portal
Whiteboard Series with NEAR | Ep: 45 Joel Thorstensson from ceramic.network
New Gooseneck Omni Antennas Offer Enhanced Signals in a Durable Package
Why You Should Build on #NEAR – Co-founder Illia Polosukhin at CV Labs
Whiteboard Series with NEAR | Ep: 45 Joel Thorstensson from ceramic.network
NEAR End of Year Town Hall 2021: The Open Web World, MetaBUILD 2 Hackathon and 2021 recap
Trending
-
Technology5 days agoChina’s Hit Variety Show “Wonderland Season Ⅵ” Is Currently Airing – How Does This Long-Running Franchise Win the Battle for Critical Acclaim?
-
Coin Market3 days agoRevolut receives in-principle approval from UAE authorities for crypto services
-
Near Videos4 days agoConfidential Intents is now generally available
-
Technology3 days agoInventHelp Inventor Develops Improved Food Delivery Bag (LBT-9719)
-
Technology2 days agoGPU.ai Named Official Title Sponsor of AGI Summit SF 2026
-
Coin Market3 days agoOstium pauses trading as security firms report multimillion-dollar oracle exploit
-
Coin Market3 days agoCrypto firms face AML risks during post-MiCA migration, says AMLA chair
-
Technology3 days agoJumpCloud Launches Workflows To Empower IT Teams With Secure And Simple Automation
