AI reshaping hardware while creating growth opportunities, challenges

BEIJING — China, once deemed "factory of the world" for churning out low-cost products and serving as a contract manufacturing hub for multinational brands, is now seeing its consumer electronics enterprises ride the AI wave to move up the value chain and cash in on the high-end market.

Among the rising stars is Dreame Technology, known as a leading manufacturer of smart vacuum cleaners. The company, based in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, is now expanding into the broader home appliances market. Founded in 2015, the company sold 3.96 million robotic vacuum cleaners last year, a year-on-year growth of nearly 60 percent, with its products reaching over 100 countries and regions.

At a product launch event in March, Dreame unveiled 11 new products, including its first AI-powered windowcleaning robot. Among the standout innovations was a robotic vacuum featuring a bionic, multi-joint arm capable of extending up to 33 centimeters and cleaning narrow spaces with the help of cleaning tools. Another notable feature is its ability to automatically change mop cloths, allowing for dedicated mopping in specific zones.