China embraces smart home revolution with AI-integrated appliances

China's home appliance manufacturers are rapidly embracing a smart home revolution by integrating artificial intelligence, leading to a surge in demand for innovative products among consumers.

With the introduction of new subsidies and policies, upgrading homes with cutting-edge technology has never been easier in China, where smart home gadgets are gaining immense popularity.

The concept of controlling electronics with voice commands may still feel futuristic to many, but the essence of a smart home lies in automation -- anticipating and fulfilling the needs of users seamlessly, according to industry insiders.

"This washing machine has a feature of automation. After washing, clothes usually need to be hung up to dry. After the laundry cycle completes, the hanger detects this and automatically lowers itself when the washing machine door is opened," said He Peng, a product specialist of Xiaomi.

"This smart door lock seamlessly integrates with various devices. For instance, upon arrival, the speaker can greet you, while lights, curtains, air purifiers, and air conditioners can all be synchronized and controlled automatically," said He.

China has rolled out over 40 billion U.S. dollars in subsidies to boost consumption and encourage consumers to trade in old appliances for new ones. Digital devices and smart home gadgets are seeing an immediate surge in demand.

"Gen Z, millennials and the silver-haired are called the 'three pivotal generations' who are very key to reshaping China retail momentum. So, each generation exhibits very distinctive preferences in embracing innovation. Gen Z and millennials are quite young, they are young generations, they are much more proactive and enthusiastic when they just want to buy something new, like the smart optical, smart watches and smart speakers. So, they are very popular. In addition, the demand for AI-powered devices, such as voice-controlled smart home systems, is growing very fast in China. That reflects the consumers' growing preferences to integrate technology into their daily lives," said Jacky Zhu, head of the retail research department of JLL China.

In contrast, older generations are showing growing interest in wearable healthcare and security products, and home automation remains a massive growth area, industry insiders said.

"But what is the most important thing? I think it is also the voice-controlled terminals for all people, which could also manage the temperature, the emergency calls or the lighting, etc. So, it really helps older people to live independently, without families, and it also can reduce the risks of accidents to the older people," said Zhu.

The evolution of smart technology extends beyond homes to workspaces, where AI and advanced systems are becoming increasingly prevalent. With the advent of 5G and the Internet of Things in recent years, the interconnectivity of devices has reached new heights, marking a transformative wave of growth driven by AI-powered appliances.

China embraces smart home revolution with AI-integrated appliances

China embraces smart home revolution with AI-integrated appliances

Thailand's rural tradition of elephant stewardship is rapidly vanishing as livelihoods change and younger people pursue opportunities elsewhere, threatening centuries of irreplaceable elephant-care knowledge.

For generations, mahouts in the region have passed on their tradition of closely bonding with the elephants they care for. Taweesuk Lapsan is one of a dwindling number of mahouts who diligently carry on the practice.

Long before the sun rises over the fields, he was already at work, gathering bundles of food for an animal that had been part of his family for generations.

"We've had elephants since our grandparents' and great-grandparents' generations. We've been around elephants our whole lives, so we have a strong connection and experience in raising them. That's how we've been able to live with them like this," the mahout said.

Caring for his elephant was not merely a job, but an inherited way of life. Years of daily coexistence forged an intimate bond defined by an intuitive understanding of subtle movements, sounds, and hesitations that take a lifetime to master.

"We live together like this. It's like a family. We're like family; we always go through things together. Until we breathe our last, it just depends on who lives longer," said Taweesuk.

Mahouts and elephants have been woven into parts of Thailand's cultural landscape, from rural livelihoods and traditional practices. However, the tradition has been upended by the collapse of the commercial logging industry and the rapid expansion of tourism.

As fewer young people follow in their families' footsteps, conservationists warned that an intricate system of animal care, refined over centuries, faces gradual extinction.

"When a mahout disappears, they are replaced by people who simply come in to take care of the elephants, essentially, elephant keepers. There are differences in terms of the bond between the keeper and the elephant, the cultural aspects, and the passing down of knowledge and traditions from one generation to the next. So we are concerned about the quality," said Parntep Ratanakorn, Secretary General of the Asian Elephant Foundation of Thailand.

Taweesuk said that his daughters may choose paths far removed from the stables, a decision he fully respects. As the practice fades, experts warn the loss extends far beyond a vanishing cultural heritage, threatening the daily welfare safety nets upon which captive elephants rely.

Thailand's centuries-old elephant care tradition face extinction as livelihoods change