Digital News

　　According to Xie Shaofeng, Chief Engineer at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, more than 100 AI terminals, such as AI phones, AI computers, and AI glasses, were released in the first half of the year, marking a new engine of economic growth.

　　The rise of AI terminals represents a strong synergy between technological innovation and market demand, as well as a two-way drive of industrial and consumption upgrades. It also offers valuable insights for China’s pursuit of high-quality economic growth.

　　First, technological breakthroughs are key to creating new engines of economic growth in the manufacturing sector. In recent years, China’s deep investment in areas such as large AI models and edge computing has laid a solid foundation for the rapid emergence of AI terminal products. The launch of over a hundred AI terminals is not merely “quantitative accumulation,” but a natural transition from isolated breakthroughs to a fully developed and integrated technology chain. With enhanced chip computing power enabling faster responses and optimized algorithmic models allowing for more natural user interactions, ongoing breakthroughs in foundational technologies have transformed AI terminals from “laboratory prototypes” into “necessities for daily life and production.”

　　Maintaining independent control over core technologies is essential for industrial development. Only by mastering critical technologies can we take the initiative in terminal innovation and ensure that “technological benefits” are steadily translated into “economic gains.” Industry forecasts suggest that the adoption rate of AI terminal products will keep increasing—by 2027, 50% of smartphones and 80% of computers will be equipped with AI capabilities. To move beyond today’s “era of hundreds” and usher in a future “shaped by thousands of AI-powered devices,” we must continue to overcome key technological bottlenecks.

　　Second, market demand is a key driver of technological breakthroughs. The rapid penetration of AI terminals is fundamentally driven by their ability to meet real market needs. For example, in the first half of this year, major cell phone manufacturers widely equipped their new releases with large-scale models featuring tens of billions of parameters. Additionally, during this year’s “618” shopping festival, sales of AI glasses on JD.com surged sevenfold compared to the same period last year. These figures fully indicate the growing popularity of AI terminal products.

　　AI terminals not only provide consumers with a more convenient, efficient, and intelligent life experience but also spark new consumption trends and fuel market demand. This positive feedback loop, where demand drives supply and supply, in turn, generates further demand, perfectly illustrates the vitality of the economy. This highlights that new industry development cannot happen behind closed doors. We must keep a close eye on market challenges and stay attuned to consumer trends. Only by grounding technological innovation in addressing real-world problems can terminal products be both technically advanced and highly relevant to the market.

　　Third, ecological synergy provides essential support for successfully transforming innovation achievements into practical applications. A successful AI terminal is supported by seamless collaboration across the entire chain of “chips, algorithms, software, applications, and services.” The emergence of over a hundred AI terminal products reflects not only the coordinated efforts among hardware manufacturers, software companies, and content service providers but also the strong support from policies, capital investment, and talent development within the ecosystem. By the end of June, 33 national-level manufacturing innovation centers had been established in China, with 241 pilot platforms incorporated into the key development program. These platforms have successfully consolidated innovative resources from multiple sectors, facilitating the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements while driving the rapid growth of the AI terminal industry.

　　From the ongoing development of industrial innovation platforms to the collaborative building of standardized systems by upstream and downstream industry chain participants, and the joint cultivation of multidisciplinary talent through industry-university-research partnerships, this collective ecosystem approach reduces innovation costs and improves technology transformation efficiency. This shows that fostering new growth engines is not a solo effort but a comprehensive, system-wide endeavor. Only by continually enhancing the innovation ecosystem, removing industry barriers, and facilitating the flow of factors can the AI terminal industry show both the dynamism of individual breakthroughs and the strength of coordinated operations.

　　China’s economy is currently at a crucial stage of transition from old to new growth drivers, requiring both the revitalization of traditional industries and the rapid rise of emerging sectors. The evolution of AI terminals, from the breakthrough of going from zero to one, to the leap from one to one hundred, not only demonstrates the growth potential of emerging industries but also underscores the resilience of China’s economy. Surpassing the hundred-model mark signals a fresh wave of technological innovation, broader market expansion, and a deeper upgrade of the industrial ecosystem. By remaining committed to innovation-driven development, staying focused on demand-oriented goals, and strengthening coordinated efforts, AI terminals, as a new engine of growth, will undoubtedly unleash greater momentum and continuously inject vitality into high-quality economic development.