MWC26 Shanghai drew more than 37,000 participants from 143 countries, with attendance up 33% year on year. The event centered on artificial intelligence, 6G, and the Internet of Things.
ZTE used the show to unveil AIOS NewStart, a platform that orchestrates AI tokens across multiple application scenarios. The platform is described as helping with intelligent planning, targeted production, and monetization of AI resources.
ZTE’s AIOS pitch reaches beyond the demo floor
ZTE said the platform is meant to improve enterprise operations and user experiences through AI terminals for the home, office, and mobility. That puts the product in the same frame as the broader show theme: AI tied to device and infrastructure control, not just standalone software.
The event also leaned on spectacle to make the point
The event featured the Humanoid Robot Football Penalties Challenge, where humanoid robots took penalty kicks. The display combined AI-generated music, automated commentary, and algorithm-driven advertising screens.
Read for AI and IoT product teams
For operators and vendors watching AI and IoT roadmaps, the useful signal is that ZTE is packaging AIOS NewStart around orchestration, planning, monetization, and terminal integration rather than a single-use demo. The show itself also treated AI as an infrastructure story, not a side attraction.