AI applications reshape major appliance expo in Shanghai

China

AI applications reshape major appliance expo in Shanghai

2026-03-13 16:49 Last Updated At：22:07

Artificial intelligence (AI) applications have emerged as a major highlight at the 2026 Appliance and Electronics World Expo (AWE2026), a flagship expo for the Chinese industry, which kicked off in Shanghai on Thursday, underscoring the clear trend of AI’s comprehensive reshaping of the home appliance industry.

The expo features more than 1,200 enterprises from around the world showcasing their latest innovations with accelerated iteration in large-scale model technology and the deepening of industrial applications of AI.

A pair of cooking glasses displayed at the show provides real-time guidance for every step of the cooking process. Wearing them, a novice cook can become a culinary master.

A smart air conditioner, equipped with millimeter-wave radar and AI algorithms, breaks away from the traditional passive command execution model of home appliances. It achieves proactive sensing and response to user needs.

"The air conditioner has evolved from passively executing user commands to actively identifying whether anyone is home, their distance from the conditioner, and their exact location. It can then adjust airflow to follow or avoid people based on their needs, which is truly user-friendly," said exhibitor Li Chanjun.

At the event, cutting-edge AI technology integrated with home appliance scenarios unfolds in imaginative ways.

AI transcends passive command execution, proactively sensing user emotions through visual analysis and intent recognition to deliver caring services. This empowers AI to act as an intelligent butler, actively optimizing the home experience.

With the help of AI, the humanoid robot at the expo not only automatically identifies a scarf but deftly picks it up, places it into a rolling washing machine, and initiates the wash cycle.

Today, home service robots are evolving from passive command execution to proactive perception of user needs.

"Through continuous technological accumulation and relentless efforts, including enhancing the capabilities of our three universal robots for the housework-free purpose, upgrading smart appliances and specialized robots across various domains, we ultimately want them to handle all household chores, perceive people's needs and detect changes in their daily lives to proactively offer services," said Luo Nina, an exhibitor at the event.

Chinese blue-chip stocks make gains amid a rough week for global markets: analyst

China's blue-chip CSI 300 Index made modest gains in the past week thanks to the huge electrification campaign that reduces the country's exposure to the volatile oil price as the continuing conflict in the Middle East enters the second week, said an analyst on Friday.

Chinese stocks closed lower on Friday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.81 percent to 4,095.45 points.

Timothy Pope, a market analyst for China Global Television Network, said the CSI 300 Index made modest gains despite a rough week for both Chinese and global stock markets.

"The conflict in the Middle East really shows no sign of winding down and it has been as you said another rough week for the global markets. Today the Shanghai Composite Index closed down 0.8 percent, and ended lower for the week as well, but the blue-chip CSI 300 Index actually managed to make some modest gains this week. And that fits what we've been hearing from analysts and investment banks, including Morgan Stanley and UBS. They've said that China's got less oil exposure than other economies. This is partly because of the huge electrification campaign which has been happening in China from family cars to road haulage, and also just the total energy mix here. But we know that oil isn't the only thing that's not getting out of the Middle East at the moment. Fertilizer has emerged as another big disruption point and we have seen in the last 48 hours China already begin early releases of fertilizer reserves ahead of the spring planting season. With all that in the mix we have seen the likes of Morgan Stanley and UBS touting A-shares as a diversification option and a resilient market in this risk-off investment environment," said Pope.

"Sector-wise today we saw some consumer stocks rising -- led by liquor makers, in particular, Kweichow Moutai. There were also some limited gains for Chinese real estate and financial firms. But with the oil price still extremely volatile, Chinese resources and energy shares pulled back today to become the two worst-performing sectors," said Pope.