Reference News Website, January 9 report: South Korea's Chosun Ilbo website published an article on January 8 titled "Chinese Technology Surprises at the Consumer Electronics Show with High-End Artificial Intelligence and Robot Technology." The article said that the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show opened on the 6th at the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. For many years, the best location in this hall has been occupied by Samsung Electronics, but this year, the Chinese company TCL took over the position.

TCL's booth had an augmented reality (AR) smart glasses area, where visitors lined up to experience it firsthand. A U.S. tech industry person who has attended more than ten consumer electronics shows said: "This year I first visited the TCL booth. Its technical level is impressive and unexpected."

At this exhibition, some people commented that Chinese companies, which have quietly been working on 'technological rise' under U.S. sanctions, are beginning to see the results of their efforts. An industry insider said: "China is no longer a follower but a strong competitor, capable of leading the technological trend in future fields such as robotics, autonomous driving, and AI home appliances."

Chinese home appliances have shifted from being seen as low-cost products to high-value, quality products, now being evaluated as having added artificial intelligence and innovative elements. Chinese companies are now launching an offensive with high-quality, reasonably priced premium products.

Some evaluations suggest that China has achieved quality improvements in all stages of hardware manufacturing, from production and assembly to finished products. A technology expert visiting the exhibition said: "The combination of high-performance artificial intelligence like DeepSeek with China's advanced hardware manufacturing technology can quickly make products more premium. The moment they are rated as top-tier products is not far away."

According to the report, the tech industry assesses that China plans to dominate the entire robot ecosystem, from development, production, sales, to research, through a large-scale production campaign.

A tech industry person said: "Chinese companies are striving to build international brands with global reach."

The German website Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung published an article titled "New Order in Las Vegas" on January 7. The article said that upon entering the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, people immediately notice the changes. For many years, the core booth was occupied by Samsung, but now stands the TCL booth.

Hisense and Changhong also moved into the vacated positions. For the first time, the core area of the consumer electronics show showed a Chinese-led appearance. The significance of this new order goes beyond the size of the booths themselves; it concerns changes in the balance of power, new ambitions, and the confidence that Chinese tech companies did not display a decade ago.

This exhibition has always been both a stage for showing and a symbol of status. Whoever occupies the best position here gets the most attention and has the authority to define "progress." It is no coincidence that Chinese companies now occupy the central position. It is a declaration.

For a long time, Chinese exhibitors in Las Vegas were seen as behind-the-scenes suppliers. Their products entered the U.S. market under other brands. That era is ending.

An analyst who has tracked Chinese companies for many years summarized: These companies appeared as brand leaders. Their goals have changed. In the past, they focused on how to produce cheaper than competitors, but now it is about how to do better and how to set the rules for their product categories. This shift did not happen overnight. It is the result of years of R&D investment, government support, and strategic patience.

The exhibition this year showcases not a single moment, but a trend. Chinese tech companies are increasingly leading in the "embodiment" of artificial intelligence: robots, drones, displays, vehicles. If the future lies in the integration of software and hardware, and in machines that can not only compute but also act, then the platform that carries this revolution—along with its standards, interfaces, and supply chain—is likely to be led by China. (Translated by Feng Xue, Jiao Yu)

On January 6, people visit the TCL booth at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, USA. (Xinhua)

Original: toutiao.com/article/7593245492880966184/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.