AI is taking center stage at MWC Shanghai 2024
Huawei showcase AI applications in its booth in MWC Shanghai.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking center stage at the ongoing MWC Shanghai 2024, integrating with smartphones, computers and smart devices. Those China-developed AI models and innovations make new devices competitive even compared with global giants such as Apple and OpenAI.
Domestic giants including Honor, Huawei, iFlytek and Lenovo are outlining their AI strategies and accelerating efforts to make AI accessible and beneficial for businesses and families, Shanghai Daily learned.
Honor released new AI functions to fight against Deepfake.
Honor's new AI features
Honor is showing two on-device AI features at the event, an AI-managed screen for eye protection and anti-deepfake tech, which combats online misinformation by identifying and potentially flagging manipulated videos.
Honor CEO Zhao Ming emphasized a user-centric AI strategy with suited and most required functions, also prioritizing practical applications over expensive AI chips that inflate phone prices.
Honor's approach democratizes AI technology, offering practical AI features at a competitive price point starting around 2,000 yuan (US$274). This strategy contrasts with competitors who offer on-device AI primarily on high-end flagship models.
Comparatively, Apple's new Apple Intelligence only supports flagship models at high prices.
Visitors testing Lenovo's AI PC at the event.
Lenovo's AI PC strategy
A concept personal computer with semi-transparent display attracted visitors at Lenovo's booth.
Lenovo, the world's biggest PC vendor, is showcasing its full-range AI strategy with capabilities on AI models and personalized interface, localized database, AI computing power, ecosystem and security and privacy protection. For consumers, the AI has been used in PC, smartphone, tablet and smart devices.
Lenovo is the first major PC vendor to launch PCs with on-device AI features. The Lenovo AI PCs, which can automatically build artwork presentations and synthesize knowledge based on stored documents, could suit users from primary school students to scientists working in Antarctica.
About 48 million AI-capable PCs will be shipped worldwide this year, representing 18 percent of total PC sales, and the figure will top 100 million units in 2025 to account for 40 percent of total PC sales, research firm Canalys said.
iFlytek's booth at MWC Shanghai.
iFlytek's Spark AI model
Chinese AI company iFlytek unveiled an upgrade to its Spark AI model (V4.0) on Thursday. In areas like text generation, natural language understanding, logic, and mathematics, it surpasses OpenAI's GPT-4 Turbo, core techs behind ChatGPT. This advancement is attributed to a powerful, Huawei-backed AI infrastructure, ensuring future development remains independent of potential tech bans.
The new AI model will be used in medical, education and various industries, covering applications in cars, home appliance and robots. The smart devices featuring the new AI models, including smart recorders, translators and learning machines are shown in Shanghai on Thursday.
AI-powered hardware sales jumped 70 percent in a shopping festival in June, showing consumers are ready to pay for AI devices and services. iFlytek plans to expand its network of directly operated flagship stores nationwide, prioritizing consumer experience and AI scenario-based demonstrations. By 2025, it plans to open 100 stores nationwide, after opening the first flagship store in Shanghai recently, said Zhan Wenyu, iFlytek's vice president for consumer business.
