AWE 2026 First Day Blows Up! AI Black Tech Brings Life from 10 Years Later

The 2026 China Home Appliances and Consumer Electronics Expo (hereinafter referred to as “AWE 2026”), one of the world’s three major home appliance and consumer electronics exhibitions, opened today in Shanghai.

AWE 2026’s first day was full of highlights, with impressive displays of domestic technological strength. What was initially thought to be a routine home appliance and consumer electronics show turned into a stunning scene where “science fiction becomes reality.” There were smart appliances capable of proactively predicting needs, vacuum cleaners that can fly and climb stairs, portable and efficient wearable AI assistants, and even cross-industry experiences like remote car control of home environments.

As one of the world’s top three home appliance and consumer electronics expos, this year AWE debuted a new “dual-zone” model, featuring a massive 170,000-square-meter exhibition area with over 1,200 companies gathering in Shanghai. Under the theme “AI Technology, Enjoy the Future,” it brings the smart life of ten years from now directly to the present.

Top Highlights of the Day: Six Black Technologies That Will Change Your Perception of “Smart”

AI from Obedient to Understanding, Appliances Become Caring Partners

Previously, AI appliances were seen as passive responders that only moved when called upon. At AWE, it was revealed that today’s AI appliances have evolved to proactively predict and understand your needs.

Haier launched the world’s first L4-level intelligent household appliance series, Seeker, equipped with upgraded AI Eye 2.0. The “Refrigerator AI Eye” now recognizes all food types, expanding from 230 categories; the “Washing Machine AI Eye” uses visual and voice recognition to better understand user needs, automatically selecting sterilization and cleaning programs; the “Air Conditioner AI Eye” can dynamically identify people’s locations and respond within milliseconds.

Gree also showcased a full range of AI appliances in Hall W2, including the AI-scented Star Chef multi-functional oven, the AI-powered energy-saving Jingjing King series air conditioners, the Pearl refrigerator with AI freshness detection, and the MaxPower washing and drying machine, all developed with self-researched full-chain technology to enable comprehensive AI empowerment for home scenarios.

Whole-House Smart Systems Are Going Crazy! Huawei and Hisense Lead the Lazy Lifestyle

Whole-house smart systems are no longer just “product stacking”; this year’s AWE features intense ecosystem competition.

Huawei’s HarmonyOS Smart Home area is dubbed “Future Home,” showcasing an upgraded “1+3+N” solution. It uses one smart hub as the central control, relying on PLC and high-speed Wi-Fi for stable, reliable connections, giving the home a “smart brain.”

The newly released Xiao Yi Butler 6.0, powered by AI large models, can understand colloquial speech and execute commands. AI sensors can precisely detect human presence, enabling touchless control of lighting and fans; AI health sensors can monitor sleep states and automatically detect falls or bed exits, providing timely alerts.

One of Hisense’s key products at the exhibition is the recently shortlisted AWE Applian Award-winning Hercules U6 air conditioner, equipped with DeepSeek voice large model supporting accurate sound source localization, six dialect recognition, and multi-command continuous dialogue, allowing voice control without manual operation. Hisense is also expected to showcase new RGB-Miniled products, while TCL plans to introduce TVs with SQD-MiniLED and RGB-Mini LED dual technologies.

Robots and AI Wearables Explode, Scene After Scene of “Wow” Moments

This year’s AWE is dominated by robots and AI wearables.

IQIYI’s entire E7 Pavilion features an ecosystem covering smart cars, smartphones, home appliances, space exploration, energy, and chips, with over a hundred innovative technologies debuting globally.

This is the first time the “Six Major Sectors”—smart home, mobile phones, automobiles, chips, energy, and space equipment—are showcased together, providing a comprehensive view of user needs in daily life, travel, health, and exploration. Bionic robotic arms, embodied intelligence, and all-domain smart chips demonstrate the strategic implementation of IQIYI’s ecosystem-based technology.

In the MiniMax core ecosystem experience zone, the Vbot robot dog powered by MiniMax was adorable and made a real step into embodied intelligence as a physical agent.

AI glasses also stole the show: the Qianwen AI Glasses G1 series weigh only 40g and can handle daily tasks with a single voice command; XREAL 1S glasses offer low latency and high brightness, creating a “walking private cinema” thanks to their self-developed XREAL X1 spatial computing chip and large field of view; Shouyin Technology’s OpenVision and OpenGuide are first shown domestically, with the OpenFit Pro noise-canceling glasses making their debut in China.

Additionally, JD’s 60+ robot matrix, Ecovacs’ AI bionic pet robot “MaoTuan,” humanoid robot performances, and more all captivated audiences.

Integration of Cars, Homes, and Vehicles! Cars Become “Mobile Smart Terminals”

Cross-industry integration is the biggest trend this year. Cars are no longer just transportation tools but are becoming “smart hubs” connecting the entire home.

BYD will showcase its self-developed flash-charging technology and Tianshen Eye assisted driving system, along with brands like Denza and Fangcheng Leopard at AWE 2026.

On-site, BYD will demonstrate remote control of home appliances via vehicle systems, pre-setting home environment modes, showcasing seamless “people-car-home” collaboration and intelligent linkage.

Tesla also made a big splash, with the Model Y L, Cybertruck, and V4 charging stations all on display. The humanoid robot reuses Tesla’s intelligent assisted driving and visual neural network technology, aiming to free humans from complex and dangerous tasks.

Kitchen and Health Appliances Upgrade, Practicality and Aesthetics Both Shine

Beyond cutting-edge black technologies, everyday appliances are also experiencing a “qualitative leap.”

Robam Appliances debuted at N2 with the new brand positioning “Your AI Cooking Partner,” integrating hardware and software in a smart architecture to deeply embed AI into the entire cooking process, redefining the relationship between people and cooking. Stone Technology’s first dual-wheel-legged robot vacuum cleaner G-Rover, capable of climbing stairs, also made its global debut.

6. Brain-Computer Interface: From Sci-Fi to Reality

As human civilization enters the era of AI Revolution 3.0, intelligent interaction is evolving from digital collaboration and algorithms to consciousness-driven, brain-machine interconnected dimensions. Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology is redefining how intelligence and life connect.

Superbrain Galaxy showcased cutting-edge non-invasive and invasive BCI technologies, focusing on neural signal acquisition, decoding algorithms, and hardware integration, becoming a highlight in the frontier tech zone and attracting widespread attention with immersive interactive experiences.

LumiMind introduced the LumiSleep D1 EEG sleep monitor, based on millisecond-level real-time EEG closed-loop regulation technology, marking the company’s first attempt to transform laboratory-grade BCI technology into consumer health products.

Summary of Day One: AI Empowers Life, Chinese Innovation Is Amazing

After the first day of AWE 2026, the biggest takeaway is that AI has shifted from a novelty to a real necessity, moving from labs into thousands of households. It’s no longer cold technology but a life assistant that solves daily pain points and provides emotional companionship.

From AI intelligent agents and whole-house ecosystems to robots and the integration of cars, homes, and vehicles, every new product and technology showcases the hardcore strength of “Made in China.” The once seemingly distant future is now within reach.