by Wang Kai

SHENZHEN, Nov 9 (China Economic Net) - From Pawbie - the world's first "self-aware" AI pet that senses your emotions through multimodal perception and offers empathetic responses when you're feeling low - to a talking AI photo frame that can turn a still picture into a blinking, smiling moving image, innovation is taking center stage at the first Consumer Electronics Innovation Conference held in Shenzhen. Covering 15,000 square meters, the exhibition showcases over 2,000 cutting-edge products across five key sectors—smart terminals, smart vehicles, smart homes, digital health, and next-generation chips—offering a panoramic view of the latest achievements and frontiers in consumer electronics.

Pawbie—the world’s first “self-aware” AI pet displayed at the Consumer Electronics Innovation Conference (CEIC) held in Shenzhen during Nov 6-8, 2025 [Photo provided by CEIC)

As one of the most dynamic sectors in global technological innovation and market demand, the consumer electronics industry is undergoing unprecedented transformation and growth in 2025. According to the latest data, the global consumer electronics market is expected to reach 1.8 trillion yuan this year, up by about 10% year on year—significantly outpacing global economic growth. This strong momentum is largely driven by a combination of supportive government policies and breakthroughs in artificial intelligence.

A report released by Informa Group during the conference shows that more than half of users now use AI-powered features on their devices, and AI adoption is set to surge in the next five years, giving rise to “ubiquitous AI” scenarios that will drive advances in connectivity, computing, and low-power technologies. At the same time, smart devices are evolving into “intelligent agents,” shifting from passive, command-based interaction to proactive, intent-driven services. In the era of intelligence, innovation in consumer electronics will be defined by end-to-end integration of foundational technologies and ecosystem-level services.

China’s consumer electronics market has grown from 1.66 trillion yuan in 2018 to 1.98 trillion yuan in 2024. Driven by the artificial intelligence industry—now exceeding 700 billion yuan in scale—digital consumption has become part of everyday life. Shipments of foldable smartphones jumped 65% year on year, with nearly 60% of the world’s foldable phones produced by Chinese manufacturers. Among the world’s top 10 robot vacuum makers, eight are Chinese, collectively holding over 60% of the global market share. These figures highlight the vitality and resilience of the consumer electronics industry under the impetus of technological innovation.

The sweeping integration of AI is reshaping the landscape of consumer electronics. According to Vzkoo, a think tank, the full-scale upgrade of AI-enabled devices stands out as the most significant trend of 2025. The migration of AI from the cloud to local devices is happening faster than expected, as leading brands in smartphones and computers integrate large AI models into their new products—transforming them from merely “usable” to truly “intelligent.” Market data shows that shipments of AI PCs have surged by more than 200% year on year in 2025.

AI drama translator powered by data cloning can accurately convey the original emotional tone, cutting translation time of a 120-minute short drama from 3–5 days to just 3–5 hours. [Photo/China Economic Net]

The market’s optimism is reflected in financial performance. As of February 2025, among 47 consumer electronics companies listed on China’s A-share market, 24 are expected to post profit growth for Q4 2024, with seven achieving increases of over 100%. The sector’s stock index has risen 11.7% since February, outperforming most other industries.

Vzkoo mentions policy support as a key growth driver. The Chinese government has introduced a series of measures, such as the guiding opinions on promoting the high-quality development of the audiovisual electronics industry and an action plan to boost the smart health and elderly care industry development, along with incentives like trade-in programs to stimulate domestic demand. Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology shows these policies boosted the industry’s prosperity index by about 15 percentage points between 2024 and 2025, with particularly strong effects in smart home appliances and premium smartphones.

China’s consumer electronics sector has also become a magnet for international investment. Alan de Célis, Consul General of Brazil in Guangzhou expressed anticipation to deeper China-Brazil cooperation in developing smarter and more sustainable products.

Francisco Hortigüela, President of the Multisectoral Association of Electronics, Information and Communication Technologies, Telecommunications, and Digital Content Companies, a Spanish technology association, noted: “As Spain and China are investing heavily in smart manufacturing, green energy, and AI innovation, Spain brings strengths in renewable energy, smart infrastructure, and human-centered design, while China leads in scale, rapid adoption, and ecosystem integration. Together, we can build a mutually beneficial innovation partnership—linking Europe’s renewable energy with China’s smart infrastructure.”

British e-commerce trader Md Masum Ahmed shared similar views: “My business category is expanding from healthcare to electronics. Over the past few years, I’ve seen a remarkable transformation in China’s product landscape. Chinese manufacturers are no longer just competing on price—they’ve made huge strides in innovation, design, and quality. The level of technological integration, especially in smart products, green energy, and automation, is impressive. Many Chinese companies are also focusing more on branding, sustainability, and global market trends, which shows how mature and forward-looking the industry has become.”