Interview: China plays leading role in AI empowerment, says global market research firm executive

AI is no longer confined to software but is increasingly translating into hardware innovation.

BARCELONA, Spain, March 14 (Xinhua) -- China's technology industry is spearheading the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into both products and services, and is poised to sustain its leadership in AI deployment and innovation, said a senior executive of the International Data Corporation (IDC).

"We see Chinese brands going beyond pure software exploration and bringing AI into hardware," said Francisco Jeronimo, vice president for data and analytics at IDC. "For example, integrating AI into devices such as robot phones shows another way to innovate with AI and offer users different experiences."

Jeronimo shared these insights in an interview with Xinhua during the 2026 Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, Spain.

He said this year's event sends a clear signal that AI is no longer confined to software but is increasingly translating into hardware innovation. With its robust industrial foundation, deep talent pool, and sustained innovation, China has emerged as a frontrunner in embedding AI into devices, while also cultivating supply chain advantages that are hard to replicate elsewhere.

AI is also expanding beyond consumer devices into communications infrastructure and enterprise workflows, he said.

As AI becomes an enabling technology for telecom networks, computing power networks could unlock more efficient monetization models and enable business scenarios that were previously difficult to realize, he said.

From intelligent interfaces capable of automatically capturing user intent to context-aware task automation, AI-driven experiences powered by generative models are rapidly entering smartphones and a wide range of smart devices in China, Jeronimo said.

He added that Chinese consumers' strong enthusiasm for adopting new technologies has become a key driver behind the rapid pace of innovation among Chinese companies.

The executive said that unilateral actions such as U.S. technology restrictions on China have not halted the development of Chinese companies. Instead, they have reshaped the underlying dynamics of China's technology industry and further stimulated innovation.

"When facing external restrictions, Chinese companies have to innovate independently," he said. "Some countries try to delay China's progress through various forms of restrictions, but they cannot win."

Looking back on nearly two decades of development of the Mobile World Congress, Jeronimo said China has played a major "enabling" role in global technological development.

China's unmatched speed and execution capability, he said, have been key factors behind the rapid adoption of new technologies around the world.

The executive also said that Chinese products have gained broad recognition in international markets for their technology and quality.

"The barriers in high-tech manufacturing go far beyond labor costs," he said. "It is no longer about cheap labor. Companies know they can obtain higher product quality and skill levels in China than almost anywhere else."  ■