AI is no longer limited to software and is increasingly being applied to hardware innovation.
BARCELONA, Spain, March 14 (Xinhua) – China’s technology industry is leading the way in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into both products and services and is poised to maintain its leadership in AI adoption and innovation, a senior executive at International Data Corporation (IDC) said.
“We see Chinese brands moving beyond pure software exploration to bringing AI into hardware,” said Francisco Geronimo, vice president of data and analytics at IDC. “For example, integrating AI into devices such as robophones represents another way to innovate with AI and provide different experiences to users.”
Geronimo shared these insights in an interview with Xinhua during the 2026 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
He said this year’s event sends a clear signal that AI is no longer limited to software but is increasingly moving towards hardware innovation. With its strong industrial base, rich talent pool, and continuous innovation, China has emerged as a pioneer in incorporating AI into devices, while also developing supply chain advantages that are difficult to imitate elsewhere.
He said AI is expanding beyond consumer devices to communications infrastructure and enterprise workflows.
As AI becomes an enabling technology for communications networks, computing power networks could unlock more efficient monetization models and enable business scenarios that were previously difficult to achieve, he said.
From intelligent interfaces that can automatically capture user intent to context-aware task automation, AI-driven experiences powered by generative models are rapidly being introduced to smartphones and a variety of smart devices in China, Geronimo said.
He added that Chinese consumers’ strong enthusiasm for the adoption of new technologies is the main driving force behind the rapid acceleration of innovation by Chinese companies.
The executive said unilateral actions such as US technology restrictions on China have not stopped Chinese companies from developing. Rather, it has reshaped the underlying dynamics of China’s technology industry and further stimulated innovation.
“When faced with external constraints, Chinese companies must innovate independently,” he said. “Some countries are trying to slow down China’s progress through various forms of restrictions, but they cannot win.”
Reflecting on the development of Mobile World Congress over nearly 20 years, Geronimo said China has played an important “enabling” role in global technology development.
He said China’s unparalleled speed and execution capabilities are key factors in the rapid adoption of new technologies around the world.
The executive also said that Chinese products are widely recognized in the international market for their technology and quality.
“The barriers to high-tech manufacturing go far beyond labor costs,” he said. “It’s no longer a question of cheap labor. Companies know they can get higher product quality and technology levels in China than almost anywhere else.” ■
