AI ushers in friendlier appliances

Smart air conditioners that can automatically adjust room temperature and artificial intelligence-powered televisions capable of broadcasting health information are increasingly penetrating into people's daily lives and becoming emotional companions for senior citizens in China.

As China's silver economy is witnessing robust growth, leading Chinese home appliance makers are stepping up efforts to launch products suitable for seniors — a demographic that has shown increasing demand for diversified, easy-to-use and health-oriented household appliances.

Experts said AI technologies are increasingly integrated into senior-friendly home appliances. With features such as intelligent voice interaction and health monitoring having been introduced, it will be more convenient for seniors to use these intelligent and innovative products, creating new consumption growth drivers.

Chinese home appliance giant Haier Group has developed AI-driven rehabilitation robots, which can provide personalized rehab plans based on the physical conditions of the elderly.

Its AI-powered TVs featuring an eye protection function can dynamically enhance image contrast, allowing elderly to see TV programs more clearly and comfortably. These products are equipped with medical large models to provide online consultation services, and can also automatically generate monthly health reports and send them to the smartphones of users.

Haier has rolled out toilets designed for seniors who have mobility issues, as well as showers and bathrooms with constant temperature control systems and voice recognition functionality.

Hisense Group has launched TVs integrating medical-level vision protection technology that aligns with the viewing habits and preferences of the elderly. Seniors can play games, engage in physical exercise, make purchases online and have video chats with their friends and family members via the intelligent TVs.

Its air conditioners combine the multiple functions of an air purifier, disinfection machine, dehumidifier, and humidity controller to provide a comprehensive solution for indoor air quality. In addition, elderly users can easily control air conditioners through simple voice commands through the advanced AI voice control system that can recognize dialects in different regions.

The company is also collaborating with top-tier hospitals across the nation to develop healthcare management platforms to monitor the health conditions of senior citizens.

Sichuan Changhong Electronics Holding Group Co Ltd has developed a smart eldercare system, enabling interconnections of home appliances, medical devices and security systems, and its AI-powered TV sets can understand the needs of seniors and remind them to take medications on time.

Data from Beijing-based market consultancy All View Cloud showed that the scale of China's senior-friendly home appliance market will exceed 100 billion yuan ($14.01 billion) in 2025 and is expected to reach 1 trillion yuan in 2030.

According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, China's elderly population is projected to grow by more than 10 million annually over the next decade. By 2035, the silver economy is expected to account for 9 percent of China's GDP.

China's silver economy is expected to grow from 7 trillion yuan in 2024 to 30 trillion yuan in 2035, said the China Research Center on Aging. However, the elderly care products and services currently available in the market are not practical enough for senior citizens.

The country has released a guideline aimed at building a solid service system for the elderly by 2029, as part of a broader push to address the challenges of an aging population and improve the quality of life for seniors. The guideline said that services will be better matched with the needs of seniors by 2035.