Chinese Smartphone Brands Lead the AI Race on Home Turf

Chinese smartphone brands like Honor and Xiaomi are leading the AI race in China with the introduction of advanced AI features on their devices. Apple's AI service is set to be introduced in the Chinese market, posing a challenge to local brands' early advantage. Generative AI technology plays a crucial role in shaping consumer perceptions of brands as tech leaders, driving manufacturers to stay competitive in the AI race.

Honor, a subsidiary of Huawei Technologies, recently unveiled its self-developed AI assistant, Yoyo, on the new Magic 7 series smartphones. This tool enables users to perform tasks through voice commands, showcasing the brand's commitment to AI technology integration.

During the launch event, Honor CEO George Zhao Ming showcased Yoyo's capabilities by placing an order for 2,000 people using just his voice, highlighting the seamless user experience offered by the AI agent. The Magic 7 series will be the first in China to provide consumers with an AI assistant akin to Apple Intelligence, Apple's on-device AI system, giving Chinese brands an edge in the AI race within the country.

Xiaomi, the third top-selling smartphone brand in China, also introduced its HyperAI system, positioning it as a competitor to Apple Intelligence. The Xiaomi 15 series boasts advanced AI features such as writing assistance, real-time transcription, and translation, surpassing the capabilities of the iPhone 16 Pro. With Apple Intelligence not yet accessible in China, local smartphone manufacturers are racing to integrate AI functions into their devices to meet consumer expectations and enhance brand perception.

According to Will Wong, senior research manager for client devices at IDC Asia-Pacific, generative AI (GenAI) technology plays a crucial role in shaping consumer perceptions of brands as tech innovators. As a result, Chinese brands are eager to demonstrate their technological prowess and maintain a competitive edge in the evolving AI landscape. The ability to offer cutting-edge products with advanced AI features is key for manufacturers to establish themselves as leaders in the market.

While Chinese smartphone brands currently enjoy an early advantage in the AI race, the sustainability of this lead will hinge on Apple's ability to introduce its unique features to the Chinese market swiftly. Apple recently launched its AI service as part of the iOS 18.1 update, but the feature remains disabled for devices purchased in mainland China. The company plans to introduce the Chinese-language version of its AI features in April, although the exact availability timeline for mainland users is yet to be specified.

Lucas Zhong, an analyst at consultancy Canalys, emphasised that building an AI ecosystem is a long-term endeavour. He highlighted Apple's integrated ecosystem and unified environment as factors that are expected to maintain the company's AI competitiveness in the long run.

Chinese smartphone brands like Honor and Xiaomi are leading the AI race in China with the introduction of advanced AI features on their devices.
Apple's AI service is set to be introduced in the Chinese market, posing a challenge to local brands' early advantage.
Generative AI technology plays a crucial role in shaping consumer perceptions of brands as tech leaders, driving manufacturers to stay competitive in the AI race.

Source: SCMP