Xiaomi is accelerating its push into high-end technology, advancing simultaneously on two fronts: in-house chip development and AI deployment.
In a Tuesday interview with CNBC, the company's President Lu Weibing stated that Xiaomi plans to upgrade its self-developed SoC chips annually and is preparing to launch a standalone AI assistant for overseas markets. This announcement marks a substantive step in Xiaomi's pursuit of core technology independence and signals that its chip iteration cadence will align with Apple's.
Analysts suggest that Xiaomi is attempting to build differentiated competitive barriers through deep integration of chips, operating systems, and AI assistants—distinct from third-party solutions provided by Qualcomm and MediaTek. This strategy also lays the groundwork for its AI ecosystem ahead of its planned entry into the European electric vehicle market in 2027.
**Annual Chip Updates: Ambition to Catch Apple** Xiaomi launched its first self-developed SoC, the Xuanjie O1, last year, utilizing an advanced 3-nanometer process. Speaking to CNBC during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Lu Weibing remarked, "This is our first chip product. Looking ahead, we should be upgrading it every year."
He revealed that the new generation chip will first be featured in devices released domestically this year, before gradually extending to models sold in international markets.
Developing a new SoC iteration annually represents a significant engineering investment, a pace that matches Apple's typical yearly release of new A-series chips. Currently, Apple has its A-series chips, Samsung has its Exynos brand, while most other smartphone manufacturers still rely on third-party SoC solutions from Qualcomm or MediaTek.
Notably, Vice President Xu Fei told CNBC last September that the company could not commit to annual chip releases. Lu Weibing's definitive statement now indicates a marked increase in internal confidence regarding the chip strategy.
Last year, CEO Lei Jun announced that the company would invest at least 50 billion yuan (approximately $6.9 billion) over the next decade into developing its own chips.
**Integrated Hardware-Software-AI: First Three-in-One Combination** The strategic value of a self-developed SoC lies not only in the chip itself but also in its deep synergy with software. Lu Weibing stated that Xiaomi plans this year to integrate the Xuanjie O1 chip, the HyperOS operating system, and an AI assistant into a single device for the first time. "This will first be implemented in the Chinese market, but ultimately we want to bring it to overseas markets," he said.
Xiaomi has already developed its own mobile operating system, HyperOS, based on Android. In the domestic market, Xiaomi devices come equipped with the "Xiaoai" AI assistant, which is powered by a self-developed underlying model primarily serving the domestic product ecosystem.
This tight integration of chip and software mirrors the core logic Apple has used for years to build its competitive moat. Xiaomi's move aims to replicate this approach to differentiate its products from competitors.
**Partnering with Google Gemini: International AI Assistant on the Agenda** As Xiaomi prepares to introduce its electric vehicles into the European market in 2027, the company is concurrently developing an AI assistant for international markets. Lu Weibing stated, "When our cars enter the international market, you will see our AI agent arrive with them."
Regarding the model choice for the overseas AI assistant, Lu Weibing indicated that Xiaomi may seek cooperation with Google, utilizing its Gemini model while also incorporating its own models. This strategy is similar to Samsung's approach, which heavily relies on Google Gemini while integrating multiple AI models in its devices.
Xiaomi's goal is to create a seamless AI experience across its smartphone and automotive product lines, forming a unified, cross-device AI ecosystem.
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