The battle over Xiaomi's "core technology" has triggered a new definition of Internet companies?
As a well-known technology company in China, Xiaomi has been questioned by the outside world for its lack of real "core technology". The controversy stems from Xiaomi's reliance on contract manufacturing, which is perceived to be lacking in hardware innovation. Xiaomi's exorbitant valuation has also raised questions about its technological prowess.
What is Xiaomi's layout in terms of "core technology"? Xiaomi is not completely devoid of autonomous technology. It has its own self-developed MIUI operating system, which is one of Xiaomi's most well-known technologies. The MIUI system is very popular among domestic users, with rich functions and a high degree of personalization, which can be said to be a highlight of Xiaomi.
In addition to the MIUI system, Xiaomi has also made layouts in cloud services, artificial intelligence and other fields. Xiaomi Cloud Service can provide users with cloud storage, cloud albums and other functions, and can be seamlessly connected with the MIUI system. In the field of artificial intelligence, Xiaomi has launched products such as Xiaomi AI speakers, and established an artificial intelligence laboratory dedicated to the research and development of speech recognition, computer vision and other technologies.
It should be pointed out that Xiaomi's technical capabilities in these areas still have a certain gap compared with the top domestic technology companies. However, Xiaomi does not seem to equate "core technology" with traditional definitions such as chips and hardware, but pays more attention to the construction of software and ecosystems.
Xiaomi believes that in the era of mobile Internet, the boundaries between software and hardware are gradually blurring. An excellent mobile phone product requires not only excellent hardware, but also a good software ecosystem. The reason why Xiaomi is questioned by the outside world for its lack of "core technology" is largely because of people's inherent perception of the concept of "core technology".
Does the definition of "core technology" really need to be revisited?
In the era of mobile Internet, the competition of technology products is no longer limited to a single hardware field, and the importance of software ecosystem is becoming increasingly prominent. The user experience of a mobile phone largely depends on the perfection of its software ecology such as operating systems and applications. It is obviously too narrow to equate "core technology" with only chips and hardware.
The importance of software technology in today's day and age cannot be overstated. Taking the operating system as an example, it is like a bridge between hardware and applications, and plays a vital role in the operation of the entire system. An excellent operating system not only requires an in-depth understanding of hardware, but also needs to have accurate control of user experience.
The construction of the ecosystem is also a very challenging "core technology". To build a complete ecosystem, it is necessary to seamlessly integrate hardware, software, services and other links, and attract enough developers to join, and the system architecture capabilities required behind this can be imagined.
It is based on the above cognition that Xiaomi has focused on the creation of software ecosystems such as MIUI systems and cloud services. Although it is relatively lagging behind in terms of hardware innovation, Xiaomi's software ecology has begun to take shape, which may be where Xiaomi's real "core technology" lies.
The impact of Xiaomi's "core technology" battle is far-reaching. For Xiaomi itself, the controversy has undoubtedly increased the pressure on its technological innovation. To get rid of the doubt of "lack of core technology", Xiaomi must make breakthroughs in both software and hardware fields to prove its comprehensive strength.
This controversy will also prompt the entire Internet industry to rethink the definition of "core technology". In the era of mobile Internet, relying solely on hardware innovation can no longer support the long-term development of enterprises, and the importance of the software ecosystem cannot be ignored. For Internet companies, the connotation of "core technology" needs to be redefined.
For investors and consumers, the debate may be a source of some confusion. When investors evaluate the value of an Internet company, they need to re-examine the criteria of "core technology"; When consumers buy products, they also need to fully consider hardware, software and other factors.
The controversy over Xiaomi's "core technology" has sparked a rethinking of the definition of "core technology" for Internet companies. In this era of accelerated integration of software and hardware, the narrow view of "core technology" can no longer meet the needs of development. Perhaps, we need to use a more open and inclusive perspective to re-examine the innovation model and technical strength of Internet companies.