Smart home competition goes global as Chinese AI models power smart TVs, vacuum cleaners

China‘s rapid adoption of domestic AI technology has taken a new turn as major home appliance manufacturers announce integration of DeepSeek’s AI models. DeepSeek, a Hangzhou-based startup, has gained prominence in 2025 for developing large language models that match Western capabilities at lower costs.

Market momentum: DeepSeek’s expansion into consumer appliances marks a significant shift in how AI is being incorporated into everyday Chinese households.

• Leading manufacturers Haier, Hisense, and TCL Electronics have joined tech giants Huawei and Tencent in adopting DeepSeek’s AI models
• The integration extends to smart TVs, refrigerators, and robot vacuum cleaners that already feature voice command capabilities
• DeepSeek is preparing to launch R2, a successor to its current R1 reasoning model

Technical capabilities: DeepSeek’s AI models enable more sophisticated interaction between users and their smart home devices through advanced language processing.

• The technology allows devices to understand and execute complex, multi-step commands with greater precision
• Robot vacuum cleaners equipped with DeepSeek-R1 can better navigate spaces and respond to specific instructions about cleaning different surfaces while avoiding obstacles
• The semantic parsing capabilities enable devices to comprehend nuanced commands, such as distinguishing between different rooms and surfaces

Strategic significance: The widespread adoption of DeepSeek’s technology represents a broader trend in China’s technological self-sufficiency.

• The company’s success challenges U.S. efforts to restrict China’s technological advancement
• DeepSeek’s founder, Liang Wenfeng, has received recognition from Chinese authorities for the company’s achievements
• The technology’s competitive pricing compared to Western alternatives has accelerated its adoption among Chinese manufacturers

Looking ahead: DeepSeek’s rapid integration into consumer appliances signals a shift in China’s AI landscape, potentially reshaping global competition in smart home technology while demonstrating the country’s growing technological capabilities in advanced AI applications.