In an exclusive interview with Daily Economic News, Qualcomm Global Senior Vice President Qian Kun states: Achieving commercial applications of 6G requires overcoming four challenges and will reshape the way AI develops.

The Boao Asia Forum 2026 Annual Conference will be held in Hainan’s Boao from March 24 to 27. Guests from various countries will discuss development and build consensus around the theme “Shaping a Shared Future: New Trends, New Opportunities, New Cooperation.”

A reporter from Daily Economic News (hereinafter “NBD Reporter”) on-site observed that topics like “AI +,” “Digital Intelligence Empowerment,” and others have become popular among both Chinese and international guests. The rapid development of AI also raises higher demands on communication networks, chip computing power, and more.

How far is China from commercializing 6G? If society moves into the 6G era, what new impacts will it have on AI development and daily life? China is one of the most active regions in developing the intelligent economy. In this context, what is Qualcomm’s next core strategy in the Chinese market?

Focusing on these questions, during the Boao Asia Forum 2026, the NBD reporter conducted an exclusive interview with Qian Kun, Senior Vice President of Qualcomm.

Image source: Provided by interviewee

Founded in 1985 and headquartered in San Diego, California, Qualcomm is known as the world’s largest manufacturer of mobile chips and technology. The company has invested over $100 billion in R&D. In China, Qualcomm has been operating for more than 30 years, with collaborations spanning smartphones, software, automotive, IoT, and many other fields.

The Path of the Smart Economy: Personal AI, Physical AI, and Industrial AI

NBD: The “14th Five-Year Plan” explicitly states the comprehensive implementation of the “AI +” initiative to empower all industries. What specific market changes do you think this will bring to the global chip industry? How will it impact Qualcomm’s business layout?

Qian Kun: From Qualcomm’s long-term experience in global industry development, unlocking the full potential of “AI +” depends on building an efficient, coordinated computing architecture across devices, edge, and cloud. As “AI +” accelerates empowerment in manufacturing, transportation, energy, healthcare, and consumer electronics, more applications require real-time perception, reasoning, and decision-making locally. This demands chips with low power consumption, high efficiency, and heterogeneous computing capabilities.

We are developing new processors to meet these needs. Based on nearly 20 years of continuous investment in AI technology, Qualcomm centers on heterogeneous computing—combining CPU (central processing unit), GPU (graphics processing unit), and NPU (neural processing unit)—to enable high-performance, low-power AI workloads on terminals and edge devices. We are expanding our business from smartphones to personal AI, wearable devices, PCs, automotive, edge networks, and industrial IoT, and accelerating into new fields like advanced robotics and data centers.

NBD: We notice that “smart economy” has been included in this year’s government work report for the first time. As a leading global chip company, how do you think companies should seize the opportunities of the smart economy? What signals do you think are being sent by moving from AI+ to the “smart economy”?

Qian Kun: “AI +” has been included in the government work report for three consecutive years, but “smart economy” is mentioned for the first time. This change reflects that AI is no longer just a technological breakthrough at a single point but a key driver for large-scale application across industries. Moving from “smart industrialization” to “industrial intelligence,” AI is accelerating the deployment of new intelligent terminals and agents, enabling commercial and scaled expansion in key sectors.

From Qualcomm’s perspective, the “smart economy” can be understood on three levels: personal AI, physical AI, and industrial AI. Personal AI centers on terminals, shifting AI experiences from “application-driven” to “agent-driven,” creating new opportunities for industry development.

Physical AI enables AI to truly enter the real world, supporting perception, decision-making, and action in scenarios like automotive and robotics, driving new industrial forms and efficiency improvements. Industrial AI, through edge intelligence and platform capabilities, systematically enhances operational efficiency and resilience in manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure, accelerating the integration of digital technology with the real economy.

These three levels together form the development path of the “smart economy” from “smart industrialization” to “industrial intelligence.” Qualcomm will continue working with industry partners to embed smart technologies into economic operations and industrial systems, contributing to the growth of the smart economy.

6G Will Help Build Perception-Enabled Intelligent Networks

NBD: Recently, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon outlined the vision for 6G. How close are we to 6G commercialization? What obstacles need to be overcome? What new changes will 6G bring to residents’ lives?

Qian Kun: From a global industry perspective, 2026 is a critical year for 6G standardization. Currently, the industry is advancing research and validation of 6G technologies according to a set roadmap. During the 2026 Mobile World Congress, Qualcomm announced agreements with nearly 60 leading global partners—including about 20 Chinese companies—to reach a consensus on 6G development, and outlined a roadmap to gradually deliver 6G commercial systems starting from 2029.

From our view, achieving true commercialization of 6G requires overcoming four key challenges. First, standardization and ecosystem coordination—having a unified global standard helps reduce costs caused by industry fragmentation and maintains scale effects. Second, spectrum resources and technology adaptation—6G will operate at higher frequency bands, demanding better coverage, lower power consumption, and optimized terminal design through techniques like GigaMIMO, advanced antenna design, and RF-baseband co-optimization, all while keeping costs manageable.

Third, breakthroughs in uplink capacity and physical limits—developments in edge AI, agents, and sensing applications increase uplink loads, requiring ongoing technological advances in waveform design, full-duplex communication, transmission mechanisms, and antenna arrays. Fourth, operational and business model transformation—6G will further integrate connectivity, sensing, and computing, demanding new approaches from network operators.

From a consumer perspective, the changes brought by 6G will be systemic, not just faster speeds. Enhanced uplink capabilities and lower system costs will push AI inference from the cloud to terminals and edges, enabling truly ubiquitous intelligent services.

Additionally, 6G will accelerate the diversification of terminal forms—smart glasses, wearables, and other devices will evolve into personal AI terminals with autonomous perception, understanding, and decision-making abilities. RF-based sensing will also be integrated into daily life without relying on cameras, supporting scenarios like security, home care, and public safety with all-weather and privacy considerations.

I want to emphasize that for users, 6G will not mean more complicated operations but more natural interactions, more stable experiences, and smarter services.

NBD: You previously mentioned that “5G + AI” will become a key technological trend. What is the logic behind this? If society moves into the 6G era, what new impacts will it have on AI development?

Qian Kun: Since 2021, Qualcomm has been emphasizing and advancing the development of “5G + AI empowering all industries.” This is driven by the convergence of key technological trends. 5G is evolving from a communication technology into a universal connectivity and computing platform, while AI—especially edge AI—brings computing power and intelligence closer to applications. Their deep integration is accelerating digital and intelligent transformation across industries.

We have always promoted this direction through collaboration with Chinese industry partners, developing terminal and industry solutions in areas like smart manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, connected vehicles, and IoT, which are vital engines for industry innovation and high-quality growth.

If 5G has facilitated AI’s application proliferation, then 6G will fundamentally reshape AI’s development model. The three pillars—connectivity, perception, and computing—will form the AI-native platform of 6G. The network itself will have perception, understanding, and decision-making capabilities. 6G will also promote efficient collaboration of AI across terminals, edges, and clouds, helping build perception-enabled intelligent networks that blend physical and digital worlds, creating unprecedented experiences.

Collaborating with Chinese Partners to Accelerate Large-Scale AI Applications

NBD: China is one of the largest chip markets globally and the most active region for developing the “smart economy.” What is Qualcomm’s core strategy in China moving forward? In which fields will you increase investments?

Qian Kun: Currently, China is not only the world’s largest smart device market but also a key platform for rapid technological innovation and diverse scenario deployment. Chinese smartphone, automotive, and IoT companies are also leading the global push for edge AI development. Through the “AI Acceleration Program,” Qualcomm is deepening cooperation and innovation with Chinese partners to accelerate large-scale AI applications in key sectors.

As smart glasses, watches, earbuds, and other devices evolve into personal AI terminals, becoming the most natural and intimate smart entry points for users, Qualcomm is building a “user-centric ecosystem” and strengthening collaboration with Chinese device manufacturers and developers to turn AI capabilities into perceptible, sustainable products and services.

Moreover, we see the automotive sector as a critical platform for physical AI deployment and a key scene for the scaled application of “AI +.” Qualcomm has established close collaborations with many Chinese automakers and industry partners, supporting the industry’s move toward a “software and AI-driven” phase.

Finally, in embodied intelligence, Qualcomm recently launched a complete robot technology suite and announced the Qualcomm Snapdragon IQ10 robot-specific processor, working with Chinese ecosystem partners to explore large-scale applications of robots in homes, education, and industry scenarios.