Lenovo CEO On Huge Investments In AI PCs, Wearables, Edge And Partners In 2026

Lenovo’s CEO explains his $82 billion company’s investment strategy in 2026 around AI PCs, devices, AI inferencing, edge computing, wearables and channel partners as part of CRN’s CEO Outlook 2026 project.

Lenovo’s CEO has huge investment plans in store for partners and customers in 2026 around AI PC innovation, wearable devices, AI inferencing on-premises and at the edge, as well as building out an AI factory this year.

“We are pioneering a new category of personal computing hub that delivers high-performance, scalable AI computing tailored for personal use,” said Lenovo’s Yuanqing Yang as part of written responses for CRN’s 2026 CEO Outlook project.

“A major area of investment for us is AI inferencing on-prem and on edge, an important trend we see happening to put inferencing and data generation closely together for faster response and higher efficiency,” Lenovo’s CEO said.

“We will build our AI factory, and then create a library of AI solutions to deliver strong use cases in selected vertical industries or value chains,” he said.

In 2026, the CEO said other investments will be around the company’s one-personal AI, multiple devices strategy.

“Multiple devices is about our device innovation, and in 2026,we will continue to invest in portable, interactive computing devices such as PCs, tablets and smartphones, as well as sensing devices—including wearables and ambient technologies,” he said.

Lenovo $82 Billion Run Rate

The Beijing and Morrisville, N.C.-based PC and infrastructure giant generated nearly $20.5 billion in total revenue for its second fiscal quarter 2025/2026.

Lenovo’s Intelligent Devices Group grew 12 percent year over year in the second quarter to $15.1 billion.

Lenovo’s Infrastructure Solutions Group generated sales of $4.1 billion, up 24 percent year over year; while Lenovo’s Solutions & Services Group captured $2.6 billion in revenue, up 18 percent year over year. AI-related revenue increased by 13 percentage points year on year, accounting for 30 percent of the company’s total revenue in the second quarter.

For CRN’s CEO Outlook project, Lenovo’s CEO explains the company’s biggest technology investments plans for 2026, Lenovo’s AI strategy, and the most important market opportunity for Lenovo partners this year.

What are the key technology investments you plan to make in 2026?

We remain focused on Hybrid AI innovation in 2026.

For personal AI, our investment will center around "One personal AI, Multiple devices."

We have just launched our Personal AI Super Agent, Lenovo Qira, to redefine what it means to build technology around users.

‘Multiple devices’ is about our device innovation, and in 2026 we will continue to invest in portable, interactive computing devices such as PCs, tablets, and smartphones, as well as sensing devices, including wearables and ambient technologies.

We are also pioneering a new category of personal computing hub that delivers high-performance, scalable AI computing tailored for personal use.

For enterprise AI, we aim to fully unleash the value of data and knowledge to make enterprise intelligence possible and imperative.

A major area of investment for us is AI inferencing on-prem and on edge, an important trend we see happening to put inferencing and data generation closely together for faster response and higher efficiency.

Then we will move forward, build upon hybrid infrastructure, and integrate data and knowledge, AI models and AI agent platforms.

We will build our AI factory and then create a library of AI solutions to deliver strong use cases in selected vertical industries or value chains. This is Lenovo Hybrid AI Advantage which we will continue to invest in and unleash for our customers.

Fill in the blank: My top priority for 2026 is:

Our top priority is to bring our Hybrid AI vision to life: unlocking the opportunity to augment, elevate and maximize human potential through Lenovo Qira we just launched; and unleashing the Lenovo Hybrid AI Advantage to help customers turn their data into valuable insights and create tangible business value.

What do you see as the toughest challenges facing customers in 2026?

In my view, for individual consumers, it’s about making AI truly personal, or distinctly ‘yours’ rather than delivering generic outcomes.

For enterprise customers, it’s about navigating the vast volumes of data and knowledge generated through their day-to-day operations, turning them into actional insights and measurable business value, and delivering clear ROI and scaling AI responsibly while balancing security, cost and trust.

In 2026, together with our channel partners, we are building the next level of capabilities to tackle these challenges.

What is the biggest market opportunity you and your channel partners will tackle together in 2026?

The most transformative market opportunity for us and our channel partners continues to be delivering Hybrid AI. We believe Hybrid AI will define the future and is the path to AI democratization.

For individual consumers, they need personal AI, which tailors to their needs and preferences, connects and orchestrates multiple devices, and is available anywhere and on any device.

For enterprise customers, they need enterprise AI, which is designed around the full value chain in organizations, uplifting day-to-day operations, and empowering employees.

Leading our customers into this new era of Hybrid AI will unlock new revenue streams and recurring services opportunities for our channel partners. On the personal AI front, we will work closely with our partners to capture innovation in AI devices.

AI PCs are expected to represent 80 percent of the market within the next three years, and the number of AI smartphones is projected to reach nearly 1 billion units.

Together, we will also explore new opportunities in AI-native wearables—an emerging category we believe holds massive potential, with the opportunity to scale to billions of units over time.

On the enterprise AI front, together we will capitalize on the rapid growth of AI inferencing by delivering the most inferencing-optimized portfolio in the industry. We will also collaborate to bring solutions from the Lenovo AI Library to customers, helping them turn their data and knowledge into insights and value, faster and more securely.

What impact do you expect AI to have on the business you and your partners do together in 2026?

We expect it to expand the areas where we pursue mutual growth, shape where we invest, and redefine how we work together.

This involves pursuing shared growth by leveraging unified tools, programs and platforms across the entire sales and delivery life cycle, enabling seamless co-selling, co-marketing, and co-delivery of solutions.

Besides growth there is innovation, and our focus remains in AI, hybrid infrastructure and sustainability. And, I expect our channel partners to add their expertise to our end-to-end products, solutions and services portfolio to deliver measurable business value for end customers.

What is the key to success for your channel partners in 2026?

Delivering AI-driven business outcomes to meet evolving customer needs. This includes selling AI devices and becoming trusted advisors.

By focusing on measurable customer impact and investing in new AI skills, partners can move beyond transactions to become trusted advisors.

Lenovo is committed to meeting partners where they are on their AI journey, providing the enablement, training and resources needed to build the confidence and capability to articulate how to integrate, sell and support AI-driven solutions.

Through the Lenovo 360 framework, partners can leverage the tools, training, incentives and support to grow their business and support their customers in this AI technology landscape. Partners who embrace Hybrid AI, build industry-specific solutions, and offer end-to-end services—from assessment to ongoing optimization—will lead the market.