Gree's Smart Chips Hit 8 Million: How Dong Mingzhu's Bet Paid Off
Gree Rewrites the Rules of Smart Homes With AI Chips
Walking through Gree Electric's booth at AWE 2026, you'd expect to see sleek refrigerators or whisper-quiet air conditioners. Instead, visitors found themselves peering at fingernail-sized chips displayed like precious gems - and they might be just as valuable.
The Silent Revolution
Under Dong Mingzhu's leadership, Gree has quietly been transforming from an appliance maker into a tech innovator. Their "True AI Love" showcase revealed how their self-developed chips are making appliances think rather than just obey. Imagine your air conditioner noticing you always turn down the temperature after dinner and adjusting itself automatically.
"We're moving beyond voice commands," explained a Gree engineer demonstrating their latest smart fridge. "Our chips give products contextual awareness - they learn patterns instead of waiting for instructions."
From Skepticism to Success
The numbers tell a compelling story:
- 8 million+ EAi chips shipped
- Nearly 200 million industrial-grade MCU chips deployed
These figures silence early critics who questioned why an appliance company would venture into chip design. What began as supply chain insurance has become competitive advantage.
More Than Just Appliances
The press conference revealed surprising industrial applications:
- Factory equipment predicting maintenance needs
- Energy systems optimizing power usage autonomously
- Custom climate control solutions for large buildings
"This isn't about making smarter toasters," joked one attendee. "Gree's building an entire ecosystem."
The real magic happens when these technologies converge. Your washing machine could coordinate with energy pricing fluctuations detected by smart grid chips - saving money without any input from you.
Key Points:
- Gree's AI chips enable proactive service, not just command response
- Over 8 million EAi chips shipped, proving production viability
- Technology spans from consumer appliances to industrial systems
- Chips represent both supply chain security and product differentiation
- Marks significant shift in how smart homes will function