Shanghai Unveils Plan for Next-Generation Smart Devices, Focusing on Core Tech Breakthroughs

Shanghai has released its strategic emerging industry development plan for the "15th Five-Year Plan" period. The document outlines a focused strategy to establish the city as a leader in the next wave of intelligent devices, emphasizing the cultivation of a complete ecosystem from foundational hardware to consumer applications.

Priority Areas for Foundational Hardware Innovation

The plan identifies autonomous innovation in key hardware as the cornerstone for industrial advancement. Shanghai aims to accelerate R&D and iteration in several cutting-edge fields:

  • Edge AI Chips: Developing specialized chips optimized for running AI tasks locally on devices like smartphones and wearables, aiming for lower power consumption, faster response, and enhanced data privacy.
  • Next-Generation Displays: Promoting the maturation and mass production of advanced technologies like MicroLED, known for superior brightness, contrast, and energy efficiency.
  • Flexible Material Sensors: Exploring flexible sensing components for foldable devices, electronic skin, or smart textiles, enabling new forms of human-computer interaction and health monitoring.

Supporting technologies such as optical waveguide lenses (critical for AR glasses) and high-performance rendering engines are also highlighted for development.

Making AI Models Lighter for Efficient On-Device Operation

Recognizing that powerful hardware alone is insufficient, the plan addresses the challenge of deploying large AI models on resource-constrained devices. Shanghai will focus on creating lightweight, multimodal edge AI models for vertical applications.

The goal is to continuously refine model compression and acceleration algorithms. The aim is for these compact, on-device models to achieve performance levels in specific tasks that are comparable to their massive cloud-based counterparts, enabling real-time, offline, and cost-effective intelligent experiences.

From Concept to Hit Products: Defining New AI Consumer Devices

The ultimate target of these technological efforts is market-ready products. The plan specifies a range of new smart consumer terminals poised to enter the mainstream:

  • AI PCs and AI Smartphones: Personal computing devices deeply integrated with native AI capabilities.
  • AI Glasses: Wearable devices combining AR display with intelligent interaction.
  • Bionic Robots: Service or companion robots for specific scenarios.
  • Smart Wearables: Health management and interactive devices evolving beyond current wristbands and watches.

To accelerate market response, the plan encourages agile manufacturing models like "product design + standard component assembly." This approach is intended to facilitate the rapid launch of hit products that can lead the market across diverse scenarios, including next-gen mobile internet, smart homes, and smart factories.