Honor, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, has made waves by announcing a massive investment of $10 billion dedicated to the development of its artificial intelligence ecosystem over the next five years. This bold move, unveiled just before the opening of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, aims to transform Honor from primarily a smartphone company to a comprehensive creator of AI devices, extending its reach to laptops, tablets, wearables, and more.
At MWC 2025, Honor introduced its ambitious ALPHA PLAN, signaling its strategy to become a leading global player in the AI ecosystem. The plan emphasizes collaboration with major partners such as Google and Qualcomm to integrate advanced AI solutions across its product lineup. According to James Li, the CEO of Honor, "I call on all of us to come together to tackle many challenges related to artificial intelligence." This partnership will see the incorporation of Google’s Gemini AI models within Honor's devices, leveraging Qualcomm's advanced chipsets to optimize AI functionalities.
Honor's ALPHA PLAN comprises several distinct phases. The first involves the development of what the company describes as "super-intelligent" smartphones, built with human-centric AI aimed at enhancing user productivity and simplicity amid everyday tasks. By prioritizing user interaction with technology, Honor hopes to redefine the smartphone experience.
The second phase will work to establish an open AI ecosystem, ensuring seamless interaction between various devices and platforms, supporting cross-platform integration. Such interoperability could facilitate user experiences regardless of device type, which mirrors industry trends favoring collaboration and communication across different operating systems.
The final phase centers around preparing for the age of artificial general intelligence (AGI), which theoretically would surpass human cognitive capabilities. This forward-thinking approach reflects the company's vision for how AI will fit within human society.
Presently, Honor has embarked on developing mobile AI agents with graphic interfaces capable of executing practical tasks such as booking hotels, organizing meetings, and managing personal schedules. The upcoming features also include tools like AiMAGE and AI Upscale, the latter which is aimed at enhancing image clarity and retouching older photographs using AI cores.
Alongside these developments, Honor is set to integrate deepfake detection tools within its latest flagship smartphones. This move not only showcases their commitment to leveraging AI technology responsibly but also strengthens their product offerings within the competitive premium market, which is currently dominated by major players like Apple and Samsung.
Notably, Honor also announced its commitment to providing software updates for seven years, beginning with the Magic series smartphones, including the upcoming Magic7 Pro. This extensive support strategy positions Honor alongside tech giants like Google and Samsung, who also offer long-term updates. This commitment reflects the company's belief in ensuring users have continual access to innovative and advanced AI capabilities over time. "Guaranteeing users of the Magic Series access to advanced AI capabilities and innovative features for years to come," Honor mentioned, emphasizing the value of such long-term software support.
These pledges and advancements were presented during their keynote at MWC 2025, which promises to showcase not only Honor's innovative spirit but also its dedication to realistic and viable AI technologies. At the event, attendees were introduced to several of Honor's new products including the HONOR MagicBook Pro 14, noted for its balance of performance and stylish design, as well as the HONOR Pad V9, optimized for AI experiences with its features such as AI Notes and AI Docs.
Even wearable technology is not left behind. The HONOR Watch 5 Ultra is crafted with design aesthetics and long battery life, extending to 15 days for active users. Lastly, the HONOR Earbuds Open are characterized by their ergonomic design and powerful sound capabilities, complete with support for AI-driven real-time translations.
For visitors to MWC, Honor has set up their showcases at Hall 3, Stand 3H10, where they invite everyone to explore the latest innovations and advancements. The vision is clear: as Honor invests massively to shape the future of AI technology, it achieves not only personal growth within its products but also aims to reshape societal interaction with technology. The coming years will determine how well this strategy of investment and collaboration pays off, particularly as the competition within the smartphone and tech ecosystem intensifies.