Air conditioning manufacturers pivot to AI technology amid market slowdown

The air conditioning market is experiencing a slowdown, with retail volume and value dropping by 12.5% and 16.2% respectively between January and July. Industry experts attribute this to rising raw material costs, increased operational expenses, and weakening consumer expectations.

In response to this market pressure, manufacturers are shifting their competitive focus from price and basic specifications toward advanced technology and user experience. TCL is implementing an AI-driven strategy to provide smart health air solutions, featuring products that can sense air quality, adjust wind direction to avoid direct contact with people, and optimize energy savings by up to 40%.

Similarly, Hisense is introducing AI-integrated models designed to address common consumer pain points, such as the discomfort of direct cold air blowing. Their latest smart technology uses radar-like sensing to detect human positions and adjust airflow accordingly, while also incorporating self-cleaning functions and high-efficiency energy-saving engines.