Huawei Technologies announced significant advancements in various technological domains, including operating systems and artificial intelligence (AI), asserting that the company achieved in ten years what took the United States and Europe three decades.

This declaration was made by Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, during the opening of a three-day developer conference in Dongguan.

Yu highlighted that Huawei’s Harmony operating system (OS) has been a cornerstone of these advancements. Launched in 2019 in response to U.S. technology restrictions that cut Huawei off from Google support for the Android OS, HarmonyOS has now been integrated into over 900 million devices.

“Harmony has made major breakthroughs,” Yu stated. “You can say in 10 years we’ve achieved what it took our European and American counterparts more than 30 years to do, in terms of building the core technology of an independent operating system.”

The development and expansion of HarmonyOS illustrate Huawei’s strategic pivot towards self-reliance in technology amidst ongoing geopolitical challenges. This OS has not only filled the gap left by Android but also spearheaded Huawei’s efforts to build a robust ecosystem independent of Western technologies.

In addition to operating systems, Huawei’s progress in AI infrastructure has been notable. Yu mentioned that the company’s Ascend AI infrastructure is now the second most popular globally, trailing only Nvidia, which dominates the AI chip market. This positioning underscores Huawei’s capability to compete with leading global players in high-tech sectors.

Operating systems and related software have long been dominated by European and American firms.

However, Yu pointed out that the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) era presents an opportunity for Huawei to surpass these established leaders. The company’s advancements in IoT and AI technologies reflect its commitment to innovation and its strategic response to international trade restrictions.

Huawei’s smartphone business, which faced significant setbacks due to U.S. sanctions, has experienced a resurgence.

The launch of the Mate 60 smartphone, equipped with an improved China-made chip, marked the beginning of this revival. Yu reported a 68% increase in sales of Harmony-equipped smartphones in the first five months of the year.

According to research firm Counterpoint, Huawei’s HarmonyOS surpassed Apple’s iOS to become the second best-selling mobile operating system in China in the first quarter of 2024, capturing a 17% market share, just behind Android.