In the southern Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen, artificial intelligence (AI) hardware development is gaining新一轮 support. Recently, the Shenzhen municipal government announced the establishment of a total investment fund worth 7 billion RMB (approximately 1 billion USD) at the Global Artificial Intelligence Terminal Expo 2025, specifically aimed at supporting startups in robotics and other intelligent devices. The two funds consist of a main fund of 5 billion RMB and an additional fund of 2 billion RMB, demonstrating Shenzhen's firm commitment to the development of the AI hardware industry.
This expo attracted more than 300 smart hardware exhibitors, showcasing China's latest innovations in AI and robotics. Huawei unveiled its first foldable tablet computer, which runs on the company’s self-developed HarmonyOS operating system, marking the company’s breakthrough after losing services from Google and Microsoft. This product has already begun pre-sales this Monday and is expected to start shipping on June 6th.
At this exhibition, UBTech Robotics showcased an intelligent robot named "Meng UU," a pocket-sized device embedded with AI technology that can interact with users. Meanwhile, EngineAI, headquartered in Shenzhen, presented its first quadruped robot, further expanding its innovation capabilities in the robotics field after focusing on bipedal robots previously.
The expo also witnessed the establishment of the Shenzhen AI Glasses Industry Alliance, reflecting the industry's anticipation for AI glasses as the next generation of consumer electronics. Google recently established a partnership with XReal, a Chinese augmented reality (AR) glasses manufacturer, to jointly advance the project. Additionally, TCL’s AR glasses brand RayNeo displayed its upcoming X3Pro AR and AI glasses and holds a 50% share in the domestic market.
In the special exhibition area of the expo, Shenzhen’s renowned Huaqiangbei Electronics Market also gained attention. Authentic Horizon, a virtual reality headset manufacturer, showcased its Vision SE priced at 1999 RMB, which bears a resemblance to Apple Vision Pro in design and interface, although it still relies on controllers rather than gesture control. According to the company representative, the product has successfully exported over 1000 units.
With the introduction of these emerging technologies and capital injection, Shenzhen is becoming a hotspot for global AI hardware innovation.