China’s national champion in voice-recognition tech is moving into hardware in a big way
Shenzhen-listed iFlytek is collaborating with telecoms network operators China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom to bring voice-activated smart devices to the mass market
Chinese artificial intelligence company iFlytek is gearing up to become a major supplier of AI-enabled smart devices, including voice-activated smart speakers, earphones and home companion robots, in the world’s most competitive consumer market.
“It will be a diverse collection of products,” said Hu Yu, co-founder and executive vice-president of iFlytek, at an AI conference in Shanghai last week, organised by tech information provider EO. “A smartphone will not be the only means for communications in future, when other connected devices address various needs.”
Hu said Shenzhen-listed iFlytek was now working with the country’s three telecommunication network operators – China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom – to develop voice-activated smart devices that are designed to control home entertainment systems.
That strategic alliance would open up a large market of broadband users to iFlytek, giving it an edge over other AI-enabled smart device suppliers in the country. China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom had a combined 343.7 million fixed-line broadband subscribers as of April 30.
There is also potential for cross-marketing programmes targeting mobile subscribers. The three telecoms network operators had more than 1.4 billion total mobile subscribers at the end of April, including 1.1 billion 4G network users.