Microdramas, short vertical videos designed for smartphones, have surged in popularity in China, generating more revenue than box office films last year. This trend is now expanding into Southeast Asia, where local companies are beginning to produce original content, though they may face stiff competition from established Chinese firms.In other news, Microsoft has closed its AI lab in Shanghai, significantly reducing its operations in China after five years of supporting numerous projects and training thousands of professionals. Meanwhile, South Korean AI startup Wrtn has raised US$73.5 million in funding, and Foxconn plans to double its iPhone production in India to 30 million units by year-end.