The next step in artificial intelligence will involve “hybrid AI” that orchestrates models and agents across devices to improve the user experience, connecting multiple devices to create a personalized AI experience, according to the leadership of the computer manufacturer Lenovo.
During the company’s keynote presentation at the Consumer Electronics Show, executives introduced new hardware that integrates AI-powered functions and a new digital assistant that can anticipate the users’ needs and can be accessed via wearable devices. The launches are part of an evolution of AI as it becomes embedded in everyday functions.
“This is just the beginning of a new chapter when technology and humanity synergize and the digital world and the physical world come together,” said Yuanqing Yang, Chairman and CEO of Lenovo. “The power of AI should belong to you. Smarter AI is AI built for all.”
The next generation of agentic AI will be made up of “super agents” that are personalized for the user, able to suggest actions and content for an individual based on their preferences and needs. Rather than digest information, these super agents can extrapolate what actions and content would be more useful to the user, prioritize tasks and suggest follow-up.
Intelligent model orchestration is a basis of these “super agents,” said Lenovo’s CTO Dr. Tolga Kurtoglu. The agents operate on a structure of “hybrid AI” that can adopt different models and go beyond generative AI—which can mostly process information and generate responses—to achieve more personalized, context-aware suggestions that can help a user be more productive. Hybrid AI combines different kinds of models to achieve different functions, whether it’s a simpler model to correct a presentation text on a mobile device or a more complex image-generation model, which should be hosted on a server, to create images for the presentation.
“Like humans, agents sometimes need a team to get things done,” Kurtoglu said.
Lenovo has been working on intelligent orchestration and building a super agent that is “evolving into your personal trusted companion,” said Yang. At CES, the company unveiled Qira, a “personal ambient intelligence system” that learns from users’ information and offers help across supported devices—including wearables such as smart glasses—and applications.
“It redefines what it means to have technology built around you,” said Yang.
“Intelligent wearables”
Lenovo is partnering with a number of manufacturing companies to develop wearable devices with built-in AI super agents. “Intelligent wearables” will create a new mobile device category, said Cristiano Amon, CEO and president of Qualcomm, one of the companies partnering with Lenovo to develop wearables. He predicted “billions of devices” will come to market in the near future.
“It’s going to merge the physical and digital world for you,” said Amon. “It pushes the boundaries of technology.”
The wearables will react in real time, intuitively and will factor in context; they will be able to maintain connectivity and collect information even when separated from their other linked devices such as cellphones or laptops.
“I think this future of hybrid and edge AI is very significant,” said Amon. In fact, he predicted whomever masters the use of the edge data collected by these wearables when they roam will be the winner of the AI race.
AI and sports
On a more immediate horizon, Lenovo is leveraging data heavily as part of its sponsorship of the FIFA World Cup championship, providing technology infrastructure for the tournament, including new AI-powered fan experiences such as an AI-enabled Ref Cam View, wayfinding for stadium navigation, and personalized highlight reel creation tools for Lenovo and Motorola devices.
Lenovo and FIFA launched Football AI Pro, a tool that enables users to orchestrate multiple agents to comb through millions of data points, analyze over 2,000 different metrics and deliver insights. Analysts can use it to compare team patterns in real time using video clips and 3D avatars; coaches can use it to choose tactical changes to adapt to upcoming opponents and players can get personalized match analysis.
“FIFA and Lenovo will fully embrace artificial intelligence, Football AI, to support teams and players while also providing a new mindblowing experience to fans worldwide” said Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president.
“This is just the beginning. My message to all the fans worldwide is ‘stay tuned,’ because more exciting developments with full AI will come to bring unforgettable experiences in the months and years ahead,” said Infanti. “Lenovo and FIFA are teaming up for the benefit of fans and football alike. That is what ‘smarter technology for all’ means. Together we are ensuring innovation benefits every player, every team and every fan everywhere in the world.”
