AI and China’s Dominance: Insights from Mobile World Congress 2024

AI and China’s Dominance: Insights from Mobile World Congress 2024 Why is artificial intelligence (AI) important for everyone?

A striking observation at this year’s massive technology fair, aside from the inevitable soreness in your feet, was the ubiquitous display of the acronym “AI” – brightly lit and prominently featured on billboards, company booths, and merchandise.

Yet, does the buzz around AI extend beyond the tech industry to reach the general public?  AI and the challenge of sparking genuine interest in its potential impact.

Gimmicks often capture public interest more than the substantial effects of technology.

For those not yet familiar, bewildered by the rapid emergence of chatbots like ChatGPT, or fearful of being replaced by AI, this technology might still be on the fringe of their awareness.

However, one major takeaway  is the anticipated shift from this lack of awareness to a broader understanding and interaction with AI by the general populace.

For example, mobile devices in our pockets are becoming the new frontier for testing this technology. The pace at which these devices are evolving to incorporate the latest generative AI innovations is astonishing. Just as the introduction of the first iPhone revolutionized the industry, AI is set to transform our interaction with mobile devices profoundly.

Integrations of genAI in smartphones will not only enhance user experiences by providing more autonomy in performing tasks but also empower users to create high-quality content (including images, photos, and text) directly from their devices while on the move.

Innovations like eye-tracking technology will enable users to answer calls or open messages with just a glance while running or cooking, and over time, AI will learn to recognize your intentions, opening notifications or apps for you when your hands are busy.

The Presence of Chinese Companies

The capability of these technologies to connect wirelessly through the cloud will depend on the effectiveness of the 5G network.

Although the rollout of 5G was delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, thus not fully realizing its potential, the Mobile Economy report released by GSMA at MWC forecasts that 5G will represent over half of all mobile connections by the decade’s end. The construction of the necessary infrastructure, with ongoing debates about an open radio access network (oRAN) to encourage market competition and reduce dependency on a single vendor, is crucial.

This situation directly relates to Chinese telecom companies and their proposals to develop the infrastructure needed for the 5G transition.

Despite concerns about Chinese technological advancements and the underlying geopolitical tensions affecting trade and competition, China’s presence at MWC remained strong. An executive from an Asian telecom company mentioned that telecommunications manufacturing is shifting from China to other regional competitors like Vietnam due to instability. Additionally, U.S. export restrictions on technology, partly due to intellectual property theft concerns, reflect the strained relations with China.

Nonetheless, Chinese companies were undeterred by these geopolitical and economic challenges.

Huawei, despite facing U.S. sanctions and restrictions or bans across the EU, was the largest exhibitor at the event. It was estimated that exploring their booth alone could take up half a day, occupying a significant portion of one of the exhibition center’s eight halls.

AI and China’s Dominance: Insights from Mobile World Congress 2024

Xiaomi, Honor, ZTE, China Mobile, and China Telecom also had significant booths, with a flurry of new product launches indicating their continued dominance in the telecommunications market despite the challenges.

Expect generative AI devices ‘to boom’ in 2024: IDC Research Director on 2024 Mobile World Congress

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