Investors Are Now Hunting for AI Projects on Bilibili and Xiaohongshu

marsbitОпубликовано 2026-06-12Обновлено 2026-06-12

Введение

Investors Turn to Bilibili and Xiaohongshu to Source AI Projects The AI hardware boom is in full swing in 2025, with a surge in smart wearables like AI glasses, rings, toys, and companion robots. This frenzy has investors scrambling, not just sifting through business plans, but actively hunting for promising "under-the-radar" projects on youth and tech-enthusiast content platforms like Bilibili and Xiaohongshu. The logic is straightforward: for consumer-facing AI hardware, genuine user demand and potential pitfalls are often revealed earlier in public discussions, comments, and critiques on these communities than in formal pitches. As one industry insider notes, these products must ultimately be tested and understood by real people. This shift highlights a crucial challenge in the sector: user education. The success of AI hardware depends on moving beyond mere efficiency gains to fulfilling higher-order needs like "unleashing personal creativity." Products must convince users they are natural, unobtrusive additions to daily life. Early hype, as seen with devices like the Rabbit R1, often fades if the product fails to clearly solve real-world problems, leading to high return rates and market rejection. The market is now entering a shakeout phase. 2026 is seen as a year of commercial validation. Some projects have already stalled or been canceled due to market resistance, lack of differentiation, or financial woes. However, the long-term opportunity remains vast, with forec...

Author: Investment Community

"In the AI era, all hardware is worth remaking from scratch."

This statement might have sounded somewhat radical in 2024, but in 2025, its credibility has surged significantly—as we are witnessing, the wave of AI hardware entrepreneurship is rising, with financings following one after another. Across the ocean, the smart ring Oura Health has seen its latest valuation soar to a staggering 70 billion yuan.

This frenzy is sweeping up FOMO-stricken investors. This time, aside from sifting through thousands of pitch deck emails, they have strikingly turned their deal-sourcing gaze towards content communities densely populated by tech geeks and young people.

The underlying logic is rather simple: compared to spec sheets and roadshows, the real demand for a consumer-grade AI smart hardware product is often first exposed by whether it can be understood, discussed, and questioned in the public sphere.

Ultimately, all tech products aimed at the masses must go through the test of the crowd.

AI Hardware Explosion, Investors Scramble for Under-the-Radar Projects

We are experiencing a banner year for AI hardware.

Since 2025, extending from the wearable device track, more segmented smart hardware products such as AI glasses, AI toys, AI recording cards, AI rings, AI earphones, companion robots, and Agent Boxes have collectively seen an explosion.

Amid the fervor, certain details reveal the excitement in the investment circle: in the latter half of 2025, we frequently saw several top-tier institutions posting job openings to recruit AI/smart hardware investors, with the job descriptions almost invariably requiring the candidates to be based in Shenzhen, the hardware capital.

Good projects almost require 'repeated visits' and intense competition, especially those still under the radar with valuations not yet sky-high. Investors have even started approaching potential founders who haven't yet left their jobs. For instance, cafes near DJI are packed with VCs and FAs trying to 'persuade people to start a business.'

(Comment section of an AI sticky note product pre-sale video)

"After this content was posted, many technical discussion threads appeared in the bullet comments and comment section, and more users began sharing their similar needs: some mentioned frequently attending cross-border exhibitions, others talked about communication barriers when collaborating remotely with overseas teams, and some shared experiences where translation tools were inconvenient when accompanying foreign relatives for medical treatment or handling foreign affairs."

"These feedbacks not only helped us expand the direction for creator content but also directly influenced our thinking about the product line," Wu Zhen said.

(Comment section of UP主影视飓风's video)

Enthusiasts Gather

Remember January 2024, at CES.

A little orange square box called Rabbit R1, touted as 'the world's first AI hardware device,' stirred a frenzy in the tech world. The market hailed it as the iPhone of the AI era, selling 100,000 units upon launch.

But what followed was not success. On the contrary, skepticism soon arose with comments like 'actually using it is not as good as a phone.' At the time, the high-flying Rabbit R1 failed to adequately explain to users: what exactly can Rabbit R1 do now and in the future? What real user problems does this innovation actually solve?

Even today, user education remains the most critical challenge for AI smart hardware—when AI enters consumer electronics, the product consumption logic is no longer limited to 'improving life efficiency' but also includes higher-dimensional needs like 'unleashing personal creativity' and 'liberating the mind.' In this context, whoever can make users understand, discuss, and pay in real-life scenarios truly crosses the threshold from a tech product to a consumer good.

But this is not easy. Regarding user education for AI glasses, INMO's CMO Wu Zhen told us frankly: This is not simply about conveying product information; it also requires overcoming a psychological barrier. Users must first complete a 'virtual try-on' in their minds, confirming that integrating this device into daily life feels natural and not awkward, before they can proceed to the next step.

In Wu Zhen's view, the process of psychologically preparing users for AI smart hardware might be longer than for most consumer electronics categories. "The day users naturally put on AI glasses to go out without reminding themselves 'I need to use AI glasses today,' this behavioral change might be more convincing than many data points."

Shakeout Begins, Battle for Attention Heats Up

While the frenzy peaks, a shakeout is underway.

There is now market consensus that 2026 will be the year of commercial validation for AI hardware. This also means that trend-chasers and狂热资本 will face rationality and冷静.

A winnowing process is unfolding: At the end of 2025, the AI wearable device Friend AI Necklace stalled after encountering severe market resistance; after its peak appearance in 2024, Rabbit R1, unable to keep up with product expectations amid negative feedback, saw abnormally high return rates, severely damaging its reputation, and ultimately陷入欠薪与现金流枯竭的困境 (fell into困境 of salary arrears and cash flow depletion).

Meanwhile, savvy players are also开始审慎调整和优化决策 (beginning to prudently adjust and optimize decisions). In February 2026, market rumors emerged that the Doubao AI glasses project was suspended; at least within the visible cycle, this product line is no longer considered a direction to pursue. Earlier, in January, smartphone manufacturer vivo halted its AI glasses project, citing the difficulty of achieving differentiation at present.

Such developments are a reflection of industry differentiation.

Nevertheless, it is undeniable that in this trillion-dollar-value赛道 (track), entrepreneurs still possess enormous确定性机会 (deterministic opportunities). According to AICC predictions, by 2030, the global AI-related hardware market will easily surpass several trillion dollars. In China, the industry expects the market size for consumer-grade AI hardware (excluding phones and cars) to突破 (break through) 1.27 trillion yuan in 2026 and reach 2.56 trillion yuan by 2030.

Currently, opportunities for exit and entry coexist. OpenAI just announced it will launch its first AI hardware device in the second half of the year, and Meta plans to double the annual production capacity of its AI smart glasses to 20 million units by the end of 2026. The latest scene domestically: a batch of AI smart terminals from京东 (JD.com), including AI desk lamps, AI cooking machines, AI mattresses, and AI wheelchairs, are酝酿上新售卖 (being酝酿 for launch and sale).

People remain convinced that the battle for入口之争 (portals) behind AI smart hardware will not stop. The AI era is still an era of用户主权 (user sovereignty).

The热浪 (heat wave) will push everyone forward. But when attention, product power, and user perception begin to compete on the same table, the final battle is just beginning.

Связанные с этим вопросы

QWhat new strategy are venture capitalists adopting to find promising AI hardware projects?

AVenture capitalists are increasingly looking for promising AI hardware projects on youth-focused content communities like Bilibili and Xiaohongshu. They analyze user discussions, comments, and product reviews to gauge genuine market demand and real-world product understanding before these ventures become widely known or receive high valuations.

QWhy is user education considered crucial for AI consumer hardware adoption?

AUser education is crucial because the value proposition of AI hardware often involves higher-level needs like 'unleashing personal creativity' or 'liberating the brain,' not just efficiency. Consumers need to understand and visualize how these devices fit into their daily lives without being intrusive. This mental acceptance and natural integration into routines are considered more important than just product specifications for driving adoption.

QWhat are some examples of AI consumer hardware that faced significant market challenges?

AExamples of AI consumer hardware that faced significant market challenges include the Rabbit R1, which suffered from high return rates and negative feedback regarding its practical utility, leading to cash flow problems. The Friend AI Necklace also encountered severe market resistance and stalled development.

QWhat is the predicted market size for consumer AI hardware in China by 2030?

AIndustry predictions estimate that the market size for consumer AI hardware (excluding smartphones and cars) in China will reach 2.56 trillion yuan by 2030. It is projected to first exceed 1.27 trillion yuan by 2026.

QWhy are some companies adjusting their strategies in the AI hardware market in 2026?

ACompanies are adjusting their strategies because 2026 is widely seen as the 'commercial validation year' for AI hardware. The market is entering a phase of rationalization and consolidation. Projects that fail to demonstrate clear product differentiation, genuine user value, or sustainable business models are being paused or canceled, as seen with Doubao's AI glasses and vivo's AI glasses project, indicating an industry-wide shakeout.

Похожее

The Foundation of SpaceX's Trillion-Dollar Valuation: Who is Dividing Up Musk's Annual Tens of Billions in Capital Expenditure?

SpaceX's trillion-dollar valuation is built on its three core businesses: Starlink (profitable, 60% of revenue), rockets (driving down launch costs), and AI (a major investment area). This creates a financial cycle: Starlink funds rocket development, which enables low-cost launches for AI hardware, generating future revenue. This cycle fuels annual capital expenditures of tens of billions, flowing to a vast supply chain. Suppliers are categorized by their replaceability. The first group includes irreplaceable players like NVIDIA (GPU/CUDA ecosystem), Eutelsat (critical radio spectrum), Filtronic (specialized amplifiers), Materion (strategic beryllium), and STMicroelectronics (antenna chips). The second group consists of hard-to-replace suppliers due to high switching costs, such as Honeywell (flight control), Carpenter Technology (specialty alloys), Hexcel (carbon fiber), Broadcom (data exchange), and Linde (industrial gases). The third group comprises high-volume, cost-critical suppliers for mass-produced items like Starlink terminals. Key names include Wistron NeWeb (primary manufacturer) and several A-share companies like Shenzhen Sunway (connectors), Pies New Materials (forgings), Western Superconducting (alloys), and Yingliu (castings). Other niche players include Trimble (timing), Astronics (power distribution), and CTS (thermal management). The article argues that investing in these suppliers, rather than SpaceX stock directly, offers an alternative opportunity. The rationale is threefold: procurement is just beginning to scale, SpaceX's IPO brings new transparency to its supply chain, and the situation mirrors early stages of past "super terminal" ecosystems like Apple or Tesla. While risks exist (commodity cycles, geopolitical factors, technology shifts), the core thesis is that SpaceX's massive, ongoing procurement will translate into reliable revenue for its key suppliers, regardless of its own stock price volatility.

marsbit25 мин. назад

The Foundation of SpaceX's Trillion-Dollar Valuation: Who is Dividing Up Musk's Annual Tens of Billions in Capital Expenditure?

marsbit25 мин. назад

SpaceX's Trillion-Dollar Valuation Base: Who's Sharing in Musk's Annual Tens of Billions in Capital Expenditure?

**Title: The Foundation of SpaceX's Trillion-Dollar Valuation: Who Benefits from Musk's Annual $100 Billion Capital Expenditure?** This article argues that investors seeking to benefit from SpaceX's growth might find greater opportunities in its supply chain rather than directly investing in the company itself, drawing parallels to historical successes with Apple, Tesla, and NVIDIA suppliers. **SpaceX's Business Model & Cash Flow:** SpaceX generates revenue from three main areas: 1. **Starlink:** Its profitable core, earning $11.3B in 2023 (60% of revenue), funding other ventures. 2. **Rockets (Falcon/Starship):** Requires $3B+ in annual R&D but achieves the world's lowest launch costs. 3. **AI:** Currently unprofitable (-$6B+ in 2023), investing heavily in ground-based supercomputers (220,000 GPUs) and future orbital data centers. The cycle is: Starlink profits → fund cheaper rockets → low-cost launches deploy AI hardware → AI compute rentals generate future revenue. This cycle drives annual procurement spending of tens of billions of dollars. **The Supply Chain Beneficiaries:** Suppliers are categorized by their replaceability: **1. Nearly Irreplaceable (High Barriers to Entry):** * **NVIDIA:** Powers the Colossus supercomputer; its CUDA ecosystem creates immense switching costs. * **Eutelsat (SATS):** Controls critical radio spectrum for satellite communications; holds a ~3% stake in SpaceX. * **Filtronic (FTC):** Supplies millimeter-wave signal amplifiers for Starlink satellites; SpaceX constitutes 83% of its revenue. * **Materion (MTRN):** Global leader in beryllium production, a strategic material used in Starship structures. * **STMicroelectronics (STM):** Supplies phased-array antenna chips for Starlink satellites. **2. Replaceable, but Switching Cost is Prohibitively High:** * **Honeywell (HON):** Provides flight control and inertial navigation systems with decades of certification. * **Carpenter Technology (CRS):** Manufactures ultra-pure specialty steel alloys for Raptor engines. * **Hexcel (HXL):** Supplies custom carbon fiber composites developed over a decade with SpaceX. * **Broadcom (AVGO):** Manages high-speed data switching. * **Linde Group:** Supplies industrial gases (liquid oxygen/nitrogen) from facilities built near SpaceX launch sites. **3. High-Volume, Cost-Critical Manufacturing:** Focuses on mass-producing components like Starlink user terminals (target: 30 million units). * **Key Players:** Wistron NeWeb (6285, primary terminal manufacturer), several Chinese A-share companies (e.g., Sunway Communication, PAX New Materials, Western Metal Materials, Yingliu Co.), and smaller US firms like Trimble (TRMB, timing systems). **Why Now?** Three factors make the supply chain opportunity timely: 1. **Volume Ramp-Up:** SpaceX plans 100 launches in 2026, aims for 30 million Starlink terminals, and will deploy AI data centers, meaning procurement will accelerate. 2. **Increased Transparency:** The IPO provides public financial data, allowing investors to track supplier order growth. 3. **Historical Precedent:** The current phase is likened to Tesla's early mass-production stage (circa 2018), suggesting a long growth runway for suppliers. **Conclusion:** The article posits that while investing in SpaceX stock is betting on Elon Musk's ambitious vision at a high valuation, investing in its established suppliers is a bet on the tangible, recurring revenue from its massive procurement budget, which is largely decoupled from day-to-day stock price volatility.

链捕手29 мин. назад

SpaceX's Trillion-Dollar Valuation Base: Who's Sharing in Musk's Annual Tens of Billions in Capital Expenditure?

链捕手29 мин. назад

World Cup Upset! Polymarket User Loses Nearly $1 Million

A prediction market trader lost nearly $1 million after underdog Cape Verde held soccer powerhouse Spain to a 0-0 draw in their World Cup group stage match. On Polymarket, a user named "betoor619" had built a roughly $1.1 million position when Spain's implied win probability was around 92%, a low-risk, low-return strategy that backfired spectacularly. The result defied models like Goldman Sachs', which gave Spain a 25% championship probability. Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper, Vozinha, was the hero with seven key saves. The event highlights the growing scale of crypto-based prediction markets like Polymarket, where total trading volume for this single match reached $64 million.

marsbit29 мин. назад

World Cup Upset! Polymarket User Loses Nearly $1 Million

marsbit29 мин. назад

The U.S. Government Blocked the Anthropic Model. It Wasn't About 'Jailbreaking' at All.

Last Friday, the U.S. Commerce Department issued an enforcement letter that forced Anthropic to take its two most advanced AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, offline. The stated reason was unspecified national security concerns, initially linked to potential "jailbreaks" of the models' safeguards. However, new details suggest the action stemmed more from a deteriorating relationship between the Trump administration and Anthropic, rather than a genuine technical threat. According to reports, the government cited a little-known export control regulation, compelling Anthropic to block access for all non-U.S. persons, including its own international employees. The company complied, shutting down the models without a court order or specific technical details from the government. Cybersecurity expert Katie Moussouris revealed she was privately shown a research paper detailing a potential safeguard bypass in Fable 5. She argued the described method was minor and did not warrant an export ban, stating that attempts to "fix" it would only weaken the model's defensive capabilities. Moussouris and other experts have since called for the order to be revoked, warning it dangerously removes advanced cybersecurity tools from U.S. defenders. Analysts like Justin Hendrix suggest the move appears retaliatory and sets a dangerous precedent, signaling that the U.S. government can unilaterally shut down a tech company's products. The incident has raised concerns about the reliability of American AI and the potential for political interference in the tech industry, serving as a warning to the broader sector.

marsbit32 мин. назад

The U.S. Government Blocked the Anthropic Model. It Wasn't About 'Jailbreaking' at All.

marsbit32 мин. назад

Ray Dalio: AI Bull Market Continues to Soar, Should Investors Go All In or Cash Out and Leave the Field?

In his latest notes, Ray Dalio addresses a critical question for investors amid the AI-driven stock market surge: how should one allocate assets during a transformative technological revolution? Dalio emphasizes that technological advancement does not automatically make related stocks attractive. Historical tech cycles—marked by excitement, crowding, volatility, and eventual shakeouts—show that even long-term winners like Microsoft and Apple experienced severe drawdowns. Today's AI sector faces similar uncertainties: overinvestment, intensifying competition, geopolitical tensions (e.g., Taiwan's chip supply), tax policy shifts, anti-AI sentiment, and potential disruption from future technologies like quantum computing. Dalio's core argument focuses on the highly concentrated market structure, where a few tech giants dominate major indices. He warns investors against unknowingly holding concentrated, correlated exposures. Instead of chasing a handful of AI leaders, he advocates for a robust, diversified portfolio of 15 or more high-quality, uncorrelated investments, risk-balanced to match an investor's volatility tolerance. Mathematically, such diversification significantly improves the risk-return ratio—for example, holding 15 uncorrelated assets can boost the ratio by over four times compared to a single concentrated bet. Dalio cautions that future equity returns appear low, with his bubble indicator suggesting real returns could be negative over the next 5-10 years. He stresses that knowing what you don't know is as important as knowing what you do. In an environment of high uncertainty and concentration, avoiding large, concentrated bets on AI stocks is prudent. The optimal strategy is disciplined diversification—the "holy grail" of investing—to navigate this technologically driven cycle with lower risk and comparable or better returns.

marsbit36 мин. назад

Ray Dalio: AI Bull Market Continues to Soar, Should Investors Go All In or Cash Out and Leave the Field?

marsbit36 мин. назад

Торговля

Спот

Фьючерсы

Обсуждения

Добро пожаловать в Сообщество HTX. Здесь вы сможете быть в курсе последних новостей о развитии платформы и получить доступ к профессиональной аналитической информации о рынке. Мнения пользователей о цене на ERA (ERA) представлены ниже.