Chinese Smartphone Companies Look to Internet of Things to Spur Growth

As sales of smartphones begin to slow down, China’s smartphone companies are expanding into the Internet of Things (IoT) market.

This is the picture that the tech industry have long painted of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT): Kitchen appliances will prepare your breakfast when you wake up in the morning; when you return home in the evening, the air conditioner will already be whirring and your refrigerator will tell you what you need to restock; you can interact with all your household appliances, from washing machine to bathroom lighting, wherever and whenever you need. In reality, however, IoT has not grown or affected lifestyles as much as people expected.

Yet, in 2019, Chinese companies’ confidence in the importance of IoT remains strong as they pour investment into IoT and AIoT development. Xiaomi Technology intends to spend over ¥10 billion (approximately $1.4 billion) on AIoT until 2024 and prioritize AIoT alongside its smartphone business. Huawei plans to focus on developing its smart ecosystem and to connect one-third of China’s home electronics...