Huawei Launches “Project Tiangong,” Investing RMB 1 Billion to Advance HarmonyOS AI Ecosystem
At its Full Connect Conference on September 20, Huawei officially launched “Project Tiangong,” committing RMB 1 billion to accelerate innovation within the HarmonyOS AI ecosystem.
The core objective of the initiative is to incubate over 10,000 AI-native meta services, advance the development of more than 1,000 intent frameworks and multimodal collaboration platforms (MCPs), and construct over 5,000 AI agents—ultimately building a comprehensive intelligent agent ecosystem.
These “meta services” are system-level applications that do not require downloads. APIs are centrally managed by AI agents, allowing developers to rapidly combine functional modules like building blocks. This not only streamlines development but also enhances innovation capabilities. Huawei’s ambition goes beyond AI technology itself—it aims to usher in a new era of HarmonyOS, with AI agents as the central driver of an intelligent, agent-based ecosystem.
Origins of Project Tiangong
Project Tiangong was born from the rapid growth of the HarmonyOS ecosystem—Huawei reports that as of now, over 17 million devices have been shipped with HarmonyOS 5. Through this initiative, Huawei aims to attract more developers to build for HarmonyOS, promoting deeper integration between AI and operating systems.
HarmonyOS (also known as Hongmeng in Chinese) Huawei's proprietary operating system designed for multi-device, all-scenario ecosystems. It integrates smartphones, tablets, PCs, wearables, smart home appliances, and IoT under one unified platform. HarmonyOS is based on the OpenHarmony framework and Android (AOSP), with Huawei having built it into a closed-source system utilizing the Linux kernel.
Project Tiangong is not only an innovation engine for HarmonyOS but also a milestone in Huawei’s move into the “AI Agent Era,” marking a shift from single-app interactions to cross-device, scenario-driven intelligent collaboration.
The HarmonyOS Ecosystem
Operating System
HarmonyOS 1.0 was first released in 2019 as a distributed operating system built for smart, connected living. It started with a Linux-based core and the open-source OpenHarmony framework. Over time, Huawei localized every aspect—from the system kernel to the application layer.
In 2023, Huawei launched NearLink (XingShan), a high-efficiency connectivity protocol, along with HarmonyOS NEXT for developers—marking the official transition into Huawei’s “self-developed era.”
In 2024, HarmonyOS NEXT (the “Galaxy” version) officially rolled out. Every core component—from the kernel, file system, programming language, compiler, and development framework, to AI engines and models—was independently developed by Huawei. HarmonyOS NEXT completely removed Linux and Android (AOSP) code, only supporting HarmonyOS-native applications. This means Huawei has fully severed ties with the Android ecosystem to create a fully independent software stack.
Starting in 2025, all new Huawei smartphones and tablets will run HarmonyOS NEXT natively. On March 20, 2025, Huawei launched the Pura X, the first smartphone to ship with HarmonyOS NEXT (version 5.0.1) pre-installed. Later, in June 2025, Huawei released HarmonyOS 6 and opened beta testing for developers.
It's worth noting that earlier HarmonyOS versions were compatible with Android apps, but that compatibility was removed with the Galaxy version. Even during the compatibility phase, Huawei made extensive optimizations to the ecosystem.
The system introduced a “Distributed Soft Bus” technology, enabling seamless communication and collaboration among devices that follow the same protocol. From earbuds and smartwatches to smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and in-car systems, all devices can now operate under the same communication framework—enabling true cross-device, scenario-aware intelligence.
OpenHarmony: Initially developed by Huawei and later donated to the OpenAtom Foundation for open-source development.
HarmonyOS NEXT: The “pure HarmonyOS” with no ties to Android, entirely developed in-house by Huawei.
Hardware Ecosystem
All Huawei consumer devices run the same HarmonyOS operating system. Unlike Apple, which differentiates systems by device type (macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, etc.), Huawei uses a unified OS architecture across smartphones, tablets, PCs, watches, earphones, smart TVs, and even cars. This unified architecture enables seamless cross-device operations and distributed computing.
Here’s a list of Huawei products that currently run HarmonyOS. Only some of these devices have been upgraded to HarmonyOS 5 or higher, with others (like smart TVs and cars) gradually being updated:
| Device | |
|---|---|
| Smartphones and Foldable Screens | Mate XT, Mate 70 Series, Mate 60 Series, Mate X6 Series, Mate X5 Series |
| Pura 70 Series, Pocket 2, nova 13 Series, nova 12 Series, nova Flip | |
| Tablets | MatePad Pro 13.2-inch, MatePad Pro 12.2-inch, MatePad Pro 11-inch |
| MatePad Air, MatePad 11.5"S | |
| Laptops | HUAWEI MateBook Pro, HUAWEI MateBook Fold Extraordinary Master |
| Smartwatches | HUAWEI WATCH 4, HUAWEI WATCH 3, WATCH GT Series, WATCH ULTIMATE DESIGN |
| Smart Screens (Smart TVs) | Huawei Smart Screen V Series, Vision Smart Screen Series, Smart Screen S3 Pro |
| Audio Devices | HUAWEI FreeBuds Series, HUAWEI FreeClip |
| Others | Huawei Smart Glasses 2 |
Beyond in-house hardware, Huawei is expanding the HarmonyOS ecosystem through two key initiatives:
Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA)
HIMA is Huawei’s smart car technology alliance formed in partnership with car manufacturers, focused on EVs. While Huawei does not build cars, it participates in areas like product definition, design, marketing, user experience, and quality control—integrating the HarmonyOS cockpit to expand its influence.
| Brand | Partner | Models |
|---|---|---|
| AITO | Seres | M5, M7, M8, M9 |
| Luxeed | Chery | S7, R7 |
| Stelato | BAIC | S9 |
| Maextro | JAC Motors | S800 |
| SAIC | SAIC Motor | H5 |
HarmonyOS Connect
HarmonyOS Connect is Huawei’s open platform for integrating third-party smart hardware into the Harmony ecosystem via certification and technical support. Partners fall into two categories: Product Partners (e.g. home appliance and wearable manufacturers) and Solution Partners (e.g. chip or software solution providers). Product Partners build HarmonyOS-certified devices, while Solution Partners offer underlying tech support.
Developer Ecosystem
Huawei places strong emphasis on building a vibrant developer ecosystem. The company has launched initiatives such as the HarmonyOS Developer Alliance, innovation competitions, and incentive programs to encourage app development.
Huawei also offers a Developer Academy with video tutorials, workshops, and expert lectures, alongside a community platform for knowledge sharing.
Each June, Huawei hosts the Huawei Developer Conference (HDC) to showcase its latest technologies and roadmap.
To streamline the development process, Huawei provides a comprehensive Developer Toolkit, covering the entire lifecycle from design and development to testing and deployment:
| Module | Description |
|---|---|
| HarmonyOS Design | A design resource library offering unified UI and style guides. |
| DevEco Studio | One-stop IDE for apps and meta services (like Apple Xcode or Android Studio). |
| ArkTS | Huawei’s TypeScript-based development language for HarmonyOS. |
| ArkUI | A declarative UI framework for building distributed interfaces (comparable to SwiftUI or Jetpack Compose). |
| HarmonyOS SDK | Core APIs and tools for app development. |
| ArkCompiler | Huawei’s proprietary compiler to boost performance and cross-platform compatibility. |
| DevEco Testing | Automated platform for app quality and performance testing. |
| AppGallery Connect | Huawei’s unified platform for app publishing, operations, and analytics. |
Ecosystem Comparison Table
| Layer | Category | Huawei | Apple | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud & AI | Cloud | Huawei Cloud | iCloud | Google Cloud |
| AI Model | Pangu | Apple Intelligence | Gemini | |
| AI Framework | MindSpore | Core ML / MLX | TensorFlow / JAX | |
| System Layer | Multimedia | Ark Multimedia Engine | AVFoundation / MetalFX | Android Media Framework |
| Graphics | Ark Graphic Engine | Metal / SceneKit | Vulkan / OpenGL ES | |
| Security & Privacy | Distributed Security | Secure Enclave | Titan M / Privacy Sandbox | |
| Development | IDE | DevEco Studio | Xcode | Android Studio |
| Design System | HarmonyOS Design | Human Interface Guidelines | Material Design | |
| Framework | ArkUI / ArkUI-X | SwiftUI / UIKit | Jetpack Compose | |
| Compiler | Ark Compiler | LLVM / Swift Compiler | ART / AOT | |
| Runtime | Ark Runtime | Swift / Obj-C Runtime | Android Runtime | |
| Language | ArkTS / Cangjie | Swift / Obj-C | Kotlin / Java | |
| Database | ArkData | Core Data / SQLite | Room / Firestore | |
| File System | EROFS / HIMDFS | APFS | EXT4 / F2FS | |
| OS Kernel | Harmony Kernel | XNU | Linux | |
| Application Layer | OS | HarmonyOS | iOS, macOS, etc. | Android, ChromeOS |
| Devices | Phones, tablets, PCs, TVs, wearables, cars | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV | Pixel, Chromebook, Nest, WearOS | |
| Assistant | Xiaoyi | Siri | Google Assistant |
Comparison of Software-Hardware Ecosystems
Compared to other tech companies, while Huawei may not be the sole provider of any single product or service, it stands out among the three major players as the only one with a strong commitment to self-developed technologies and a comprehensive layout across all layers—from cloud, AI, system, and development, to application. Huawei’s ecosystem is highly unified, forming a vertically integrated technology chain that spans from Huawei Cloud to the HarmonyOS operating system, and includes its in-house AI frameworks, development tools, and end devices. This strategy of “full integration from the foundational to the application layer” allows Huawei to support multi-device operations through a single system and rapidly promote intelligent full-scenario experiences and the deployment of AI agents.
In contrast, Apple possesses strong capabilities in software-hardware integration, but it adopts a multi-system approach at the application layer—with macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS each used for different devices. While this architecture allows for optimization tailored to individual devices, it also leads to a less unified user experience. For developers, it may present a higher entry barrier when building cross-device products, especially compared to Huawei’s single-system approach. As the market shifts toward AI agent development, Apple’s cautious stance in AI deployment and ecosystem integration—marked by its “multi-system fragmentation + slow AI rollout” model—could pose significant challenges.
Google, on the other hand, has a strong technological foundation in cloud and AI layers (e.g., Google Cloud, Gemini, TensorFlow, Android Framework). However, its market penetration in end-user devices—aside from smart home appliances—remains limited. Although Google's ecosystem is broad and developer-friendly, its open-source and general-purpose approach lacks the unified system and closed-loop integration seen in Huawei or Apple. As a result, while Google excels in AI capabilities and ecosystem openness, it still faces limitations in user experience consistency and deep integration.
AI Technology
Regarding to AI technology, Huawei has already launched a representative AI agent—Xiaoyi. Currently embedded in the HarmonyOS system, Xiaoyi assists users with a variety of tasks, including writing, note-taking, deleting, chatting, translating, scheduling, device control, and even proactively offering suggestions. These capabilities span diverse scenarios from content creation and itinerary planning to smart device management.
In the future, Xiaoyi will be upgraded into a next-generation AI agent that integrates “Xiaoyi Task Space,” “Emotion Sensing,” and “Xiaoyi Brain.” This will enable it to understand user intentions from a single sentence, recognize and respond to emotions, and achieve multi-device collaboration via HarmonyOS. The goal is to evolve AI from a simple voice assistant into a central intelligence hub that connects people and devices.
Competitive Analysis
Strengths: A Unified Cross-Device Ecosystem
Huawei’s bottom-up approach—building from the system core to the developer community—gives it an edge in China, where:
- HarmonyOS is tightly integrated with Huawei hardware.
- Developer incentives are driving rapid app ecosystem growth.
- One unified system supports multiple endpoints for intelligent experiences.
Weaknesses: Ecosystem Adoption Still Ongoing
Despite rapid local growth, challenges remain:
- App availability and ecosystem maturity lag behind competitors.
- Stability and performance improvements are still needed.
- Some Android functions are limited or unavailable on HarmonyOS.
- To expand beyond smartphones, Huawei must boost loyalty and user experience across all device categories.
Conclusion
Huawei’s journey from follower to innovator illustrates a typical evolution: initially blending elements from Android and Apple, it has now developed its own philosophy and tech framework.
What started as adaptation is now full-scale innovation. In the AI Agent era, Huawei is not just catching up—it’s becoming a serious contender, potentially even a leader.
Project Tiangong marks not the beginning, but the expansion of HarmonyOS into large-scale AI deployment. With AI agents like Xiaoyi, mission spaces, and cross-device orchestration, Huawei is positioned to become a major player in the intelligent agent era—and could finally realize its long-held vision of a truly interconnected world.
