Lenovo CEO: AI Is Inevitable — Qira & Wearables

• Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing told reporters at CES 2026: "Nobody can avoid it." • Lenovo unveiled Qira, a personal AI assistant for Lenovo and Motorola devices, plus concept AI laptops and Project Maxwell wearable tech. • CTO Tolga Kurtoglu emphasized responsible development and opt-in controls for privacy and compliance.

Lenovo’s message at CES 2026

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Lenovo used a high-profile keynote at The Sphere to map out a future where artificial intelligence is embedded across consumer devices.

CEO Yang Yuanqing left little doubt about the company’s stance: "Nobody can avoid it," he said when asked what he would tell AI skeptics. His succinct reply captures Lenovo’s bet that AI will soon be a baseline expectation across products.

What Lenovo showed: Qira, AI laptops and wearables

Lenovo introduced Qira, billed as a personal AI assistant designed to work across Lenovo and Motorola hardware. The company also revealed a new line of AI-focused laptops and a concept wearable, Project Maxwell, that tracks audio and visual cues to offer contextual assistance.

These announcements reflect a wider CES trend: AI is being positioned not just as a feature but as a platform layer powering phones, PCs, TVs and household appliances.

Opt-in, privacy and responsible AI

Lenovo stressed that Qira and related AI features will be opt-in. Tolga Kurtoglu, Lenovo’s chief technology officer, reiterated the company’s approach: "If you want to participate and get the value-add that AI brings to you, you opt in, and you give your permission."

Kurtoglu added that responsible AI development is a fundamental principle for Lenovo, pointing to internal guardrails, strict processes, and compliance with global and local privacy and security regulations.

Why this matters

Yang’s blunt framing — that AI is unavoidable — signals how major device makers plan to normalize AI across product lines. That normalization raises immediate questions about privacy, consent and the rules companies will follow as devices gather more contextual data.

Lenovo’s emphasis on opt-in controls and compliance is a bid to address those concerns, even as the company accelerates AI integration across its consumer and commercial portfolio.

Bottom line

CES 2026 showcased Lenovo’s push to make AI a default layer in everyday tech. For consumers, the choice will come down to whether to opt in — and how much trust they place in vendors like Lenovo to enforce responsible, privacy-conscious AI practices.