# NPUs

From White Goods to Thinking Machines: How AWE 2026 Recast the Home as a Networked, Embodied AI Ecosystem

AWE 2026 in Shanghai showcased a pivotal transformation: consumer appliances are evolving into centrally orchestrated, AI‑driven systems with embodied robotics and on‑device NPUs. The show highlighted gains in responsiveness and autonomy alongside new questions about data concentration, safety and regulatory readiness.