Hisense Chairman Jia Shaoqian Emphasizes the True Value of AI Beyond Technology

Hisense Chairman Jia Shaoqian: Intelligent Technology Should Not Be Confused with Intelligent Value

On March 4, 2026, during the opening of the National People’s Congress, Jia Shaoqian, a representative and chairman of Hisense Group, presented several proposals focusing on the realization of value in the artificial intelligence industry, the layout of intelligent infrastructure, and the scenario-based development of the robotics industry. His suggestions emphasize the technological empowerment of manufacturing upgrades and service scenarios for people’s livelihoods.

Jia believes that the artificial intelligence industry has transitioned from a period of technological explosion to one of value realization, marking a crucial turning point in AI development. He stressed that technology should not be mistaken for value, emphasizing the need to abandon a technology-centric mindset in favor of practical guidance, thus preventing technological “idling.”

The core of his argument is that the development of artificial intelligence must ultimately return to its essence of “serving humanity.” Whether at the industrial or consumer level, focus must be on the genuine needs of users and industries, aiming to solve real pain points as the fundamental starting point. This direction also requires the industry to break free from blind technological pursuits, integrating AI technology deeply with the real economy and user demands. This will genuinely realize the transformation of technology’s value and lay the groundwork for China’s manufacturing to evolve into intelligent manufacturing.

Proactive Layout of Intelligent Infrastructure

Jia Shaoqian notes that AI is transitioning from being a “co-pilot” that assists in decision-making to an “intelligent agent” that autonomously delivers results. This represents the core development direction of “AI + manufacturing,” and the layout of intelligent infrastructure is key to achieving this transition. He suggests that the government lead the proactive establishment of a “public service platform for intelligent agents” and an “industrial knowledge base.” This would help model and assetize the tacit knowledge accumulated on manufacturing sites, enabling intelligent agents to plan and execute optimal decisions independently.

Additionally, he advocates for the exploration of a new production organization that collaborates “humans – digital employees – physical robots.” This could generate trillion-level algorithm and service demands, transforming the scale advantages of Chinese manufacturing into an irreplaceable core competitiveness of the “intelligent agent economy.” This recommendation aligns closely with the requirements in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s implementation plan for the “AI + manufacturing” initiative, which aims to promote mutual empowerment between AI and the manufacturing sector. Hisense has already established three globally leading lighthouse factories and three nationally excellent smart factories, among which its television lighthouse factory utilizes AI digital process design and the Xinghai large model to generate comprehensive process plans in just five minutes, enhancing efficiency by 75%. This serves as a practical model for the implementation of intelligent agents in manufacturing.

Promoting Differentiated Development in the Robotics Industry

2026 marks a crucial juncture for the robotics industry as it transitions from technical validation to scenario application. Jia emphasizes that the development of the robotics industry should avoid homogenization and instead pursue a differentiated approach defined by specific scenarios, focusing on embodied intelligence as a breakthrough and targeting high-value vertical scenarios.

In the B2B industrial realm, China’s vast manufacturing scale and application scenarios provide a unique foundation for the robotics industry, necessitating the deep integration of embodied intelligence technology with industrial production. Hisense’s air conditioning lighthouse factory employs automated pipe threading equipment that integrates 17 high-precision visual cameras and 11 collaborative robots, achieving a 37% acceleration in product development, a 35% reduction in production costs, and a 13% decrease in unit energy consumption, exemplifying a successful implementation of industrial robotics.

Moreover, a comprehensive “industry-academia-research-application” integration should be fostered, as demonstrated by Hisense’s collaboration with Fuyao University of Technology to establish a joint innovation center aimed at addressing common needs in the manufacturing sector and facilitating the rapid application of technology.

In the consumer sector, homes represent the “first battlefield” for consumer robots, with companionship and elder-care robots expected to achieve large-scale adoption first. The key opportunity for the robotics industry in the AI era lies in China’s integration of “manufacturing capabilities + software capabilities,” rather than a blind competition for general humanoid robots. Companies should focus on creating diverse robotic products tailored to home scenarios, utilizing service robots to free hands and companion robots to provide emotional value, ultimately achieving the goal of a “household without chores.”

Additionally, Jia recommends that the state guide resources to concentrate on vertical scenarios such as family services, healthcare, and special operations, supporting leading enterprises in developing user-perceptible service robots based on technological accumulation, allowing “Chinese intelligent manufacturing” to occupy an irreplaceable position in the global robotics value chain.

Returning Intelligent Technology to Its Service Essence

With the proliferation of next-generation intelligent terminal products, there has been a phenomenon where “users are burdened by intelligent products.” Jia identifies the root cause as product planning being disconnected from user needs and specific scenarios. True intelligence should fulfill these needs rather than create complications. This philosophy applies not only to consumer intelligent products but also serves as a core principle for AI and robotics technology development.

Companies must enhance a “user-centered” approach to technological innovation, cultivating new productive forces in industries such as smart home appliances, semiconductors, and smart energy, ensuring that users enjoy a perceptible and tangible warm experience throughout the product lifecycle.

In Jia’s view, the essence of future market competition lies in a profound understanding of user needs and the maintenance of ongoing user trust. Whether involving AI technology or robotic products, only by firmly rooting in user demands and specific scenarios can true technological value be realized, fostering globally competitive industrial advantages.

Building a New Human-Machine Collaborative Production Relationship

Jia proposes that the deep integration of artificial intelligence and manufacturing must ultimately lead to the establishment of a new human-machine collaborative production relationship. This is a crucial lever for the transformation of Chinese manufacturing into intelligent manufacturing. On one hand, through the construction of intelligent infrastructure and the application of industrial robots and embodied intelligence technology, machines should take on repetitive, high-energy, and complex production tasks, thereby releasing human value and achieving simultaneous enhancements in production efficiency, product quality, and environmental sustainability.

On the other hand, it is essential to retain human core decision-making and innovation capabilities, forming a collaborative model where “humans lead, intelligent agents assist, and physical robots execute.” This new production relationship will facilitate the transformation of manufacturing from traditional large-scale production to intelligent, flexible, and sustainable production, ultimately cultivating a new type of productive force in manufacturing and establishing a unique core advantage for Chinese manufacturing in global competition.