On March 2, global AI device ecosystem company HONOR presented its vision for an expanded AI ecosystem during the opening ConnectAI panel at Mobile World Congress 2026. The company introduced plans to build an open device network through its HONOR AI Connect Platform, which it expects will support more than 20,000 AI-powered services by the end of 2026.

This initiative signals HONOR’s rapid evolution from a traditional smartphone maker into a global AI-driven device ecosystem leader. Central to this shift is the upgraded HONOR AI Connect Platform, designed to share the company’s core AI capabilities with ecosystem partners. Rather than focusing solely on device connectivity, the strategy emphasizes shared intelligence across brands, with the goal of creating a cross-device Personal Avatar that accompanies users throughout a connected environment.

At the panel, Fang Fei, President of Products at HONOR, joined Philippe Lucas, Executive Vice President of Partnerships, Content and Devices at Orange, to discuss how AI, hardware and connectivity are converging. Under the theme of “breaking walls,” HONOR highlighted its intention to collaborate with partners such as Orange to expand into emerging hardware categories including education, smart home solutions, audio products, pet technology and toys.

Fang Fei compared the current moment in AI development to the historic Cambrian Explosion, suggesting the industry is nearing a comparable surge in intelligent device innovation. Just as that ancient era produced a rapid diversification of life, she predicted an explosion of AI-powered products—from embodied AI devices like the HONOR Robot Phone to specialized AI companions developed in partnership with other brands.

Fang Fei emphasized that the era of closed ecosystems should come to an end, reaffirming HONOR’s commitment to a human-centered approach. The company aims to harness AI to enhance creativity and connectivity, developing AI companions that empower users in their daily lives.

Behind this transformation lies the evolution of distributed technologies. Where human-computer interaction was once limited to a single display, distributed systems now extend intelligence beyond hardware boundaries. This change is reflected in two major trends: the decoupling of smart hardware into purpose-built devices tailored for specific scenarios, and the widespread emergence of AI interaction points designed for real-world use cases.

To ensure a seamless user experience across this diversified landscape, HONOR is advancing its open ecosystem strategy through the HONOR AI Connect Platform. In this framework, the primary interface becomes an AI Agent—a personal digital twin operating across multiple devices. Enabled by the open platform, this digital twin can understand user intent on a smartphone and extend that intelligence to connected cars, smart homes or service robots, delivering uninterrupted, context-aware functionality.

These next-generation products move beyond conventional device formats, embodying HONOR’s concept of Augmented Human Intelligence (AHI). Devices transition from passive tools into active collaborators. A standout example is the HONOR Robot Phone, which blends smartphone technology with robotics to function as an automated personal videographer, tracking and capturing moments while allowing users to remain fully engaged.

At its March 1 launch event, HONOR also introduced its newest AI-native foldable smartphone, the ultra-slim HONOR Magic V6, along with updated PCs, tablets and other devices. Visitors and media attending MWC are invited to explore these innovations at the HONOR booth in Hall 3 and experience the next wave of intelligent technology firsthand.