AI Agents, Humanoids and Display Innovation Take Center Stage at AWE

Ahead of the official opening of the Appliance & Electronics World Expo (AWE) 2026, Asia's largest industry showcase, in Shanghai tomorrow, Chinese home appliance giants have unveiled a wave of ambitious investment plans and cutting-edge innovations.

Shenzhen-listed Midea announced a massive 60-billion-yuan (US$8.3 billion) investment over the next three years, targeting artificial intelligence and smart home ecosystems. The firm debuted MevoX, an AI Agent capable of autonomously managing home devices to meet customized user needs. Midea likens MevoX to a residential version of OpenClaw, the current trendsetter in autonomous AI.

With 140 million connected appliances worldwide and overseas revenue accounting for 41 percent of its business, and also bolstered by acquisitions like Japan's Toshiba business, Midea is positioning itself as a global AI leader.

Smart kitchen leader Fotile has released an industry whitepaper establishing an autonomy scale for kitchen devices (L1 to L5), mirroring the standards used in the automotive industry. At AWE, Fotile will showcase the world's first integrated robotic kitchen system, featuring humanoid robots.

The system uses a "heterogeneous robot matrix," covering a high-precision robotic arm that handles delicate tasks like positioning glassware and loading dishwashers, while a humanoid robot manages complex cooking actions, such as pouring oil, stir-frying, and plating.

Skyworth, meanwhile, introduced its new flagship "Wallpaper" TV in Shanghai, a model defined by its ultra-thin profile and superior image quality. The product's highlight is the UB Cell technology from BOE, the world's largest display panel manufacturer. Besides Skyworth, UB Cell has now been adopted by nearly 10 major global brands for their flagship lineups, signaling a shift in the high-end consumer market.

Image quality and design are essential for high-end TVs while health display, such as eye protection, and AI are "powerful plus points", said BOE Vice President Feng Bin.

The four-day AWE features 1,200 enterprises spanning 170,000 square meters across two major venues: the Shanghai New International Expo Center and the Shanghai Eastern Hub International Business Cooperation Zone near Pudong International Airport.