Xiaomi's lu weibing envisions active intelligence as the future of smart home appliances

Xiaomi's Lu Weibing, the company's vice president, outlined the future direction of the Mi brand, emphasizing active intelligence as the key to its next decade of growth. He highlighted that while current smart appliances can be controlled via apps, voice, and AI, they still function as passive devices, responding to user commands rather than anticipating needs. Lu noted that Xiaomi's investment in research and development exceeded 180 billion yuan in the first half of 2026, with advancements in AI models, chipsets, and IoT connectivity laying the groundwork for more proactive appliances. Several new products showcase this shift, including the Xiaomi TV S Pro RGB-Mini LED, which uses AI to adjust visuals based on user position, and the Mi Home Smart Range Hood 3 Max, which employs a camera and AI to monitor cooking and adjust suction automatically. The Mi Home Smart Lock 5 Max and Mi Home Robot 7 Max also demonstrate advanced AI capabilities, such as recognizing visitors and optimizing cleaning strategies based on environmental conditions.