At CES 2026, Lenovo and Motorola shifted the AI conversation from chatbots to action-takers with the unveiling of Lenovo Qira. Positioned as a "personal ambient intelligence system," Qira aims to move beyond answering questions to actively performing tasks across a user's entire ecosystem of devices, potentially setting a new benchmark for integrated, agentic AI. This launch represents a significant step in Lenovo's vision for a hybrid AI future, where intelligence is seamlessly woven into the fabric of daily digital life.
A New Breed of Assistant: From Chat to Action
Lenovo Qira distinguishes itself from conventional AI assistants like ChatGPT or Google's Gemini by its emphasis on task execution. Described by Dan Dery, VP of AI Ecosystem at Lenovo, as "a new way intelligence shows up across your devices," Qira is designed to function as a proactive partner. Its core capability lies in performing multi-step actions within apps and across devices. For instance, during demonstrations, Qira was shown not just suggesting to call a ride, but autonomously opening the Uber app, inputting the destination, selecting a payment method, and confirming the booking—all without user intervention beyond the initial voice command. This "agentic" behavior marks a shift from reactive assistance to proactive management.
Key Features of Lenovo Qira:
- Type: Personal Ambient Intelligence System / AI Assistant
- Core Function: Agentic task execution across apps and devices (e.g., booking rides, sending messages).
- Key Technology: Fused Knowledge Base (personalized user model), Hybrid Architecture (on-device & secure cloud processing).
- Notable Features: "Next Move" (contextual suggestions), "Catch Me Up" (summary of missed events).
- Privacy: Prioritizes on-device processing; user consent and data locality are stated core principles.
- Launch: Rollout starts Q1 2026 on select Lenovo devices, then to Motorola phones.
- Branding: Lenovo Qira (on Lenovo devices), Motorola Qira (on Motorola devices).
The Engine Room: Fused Knowledge and Hybrid Architecture
The intelligence behind Qira is powered by what Lenovo calls a "fused knowledge base." This system continuously learns from a user's interactions, documents, and memories across connected devices—smartphones, PCs, tablets, and wearables—to build a dynamic, personalized model of the user's world. This context-awareness allows for features like "Next Move," which offers suggestions tailored to an ongoing task, and "Catch Me Up," providing summaries of missed events. Critically, Lenovo states that privacy is foundational, employing a hybrid architecture. Sensitive data processing is prioritized on-device to keep personal information local, with secure cloud services only engaged when necessary for more complex computations.
Motorola's Wearable Vision: Project Maxwell
Complementing the software announcement, Motorola's 312 Labs unveiled Project Maxwell, a proof-of-concept AI pin that embodies the Qira experience in a wearable form factor. This magnetic pin or pendant incorporates a camera, giving Qira visual context to assist with tasks. The demo highlighted its use for hands-free operations like getting directions or sending texts, with the pin's interface showing Qira's step-by-step reasoning process. While acknowledging the checkered history of AI pins, Motorola positions Project Maxwell as a "perceptive companion" designed for moments when using a phone is inconvenient, pushing the boundary of ambient, always-available computing.
Project Maxwell (Motorola AI Pin Proof-of-Concept):
- Form Factor: Magnetic pin/wearable with an attached chain for necklace use.
- Key Component: Integrated camera to provide visual context to the Qira AI.
- Function: A "Perceptive Companion" for hands-free task execution (demonstrated for navigation, communication, ride-hailing).
- Status: Proof-of-Concept (not a launched product).
Strategic Vision: Lenovo's Hybrid AI Roadmap
The launch of Qira is a key component of Lenovo's broader hybrid AI strategy, articulated by Chairman and CEO Yang Yuanqing at CES. He emphasized that no single AI model or device can meet all user needs, advocating for a blend of personal, enterprise, and public AI. CTO Tolga Kurtoglu detailed the three technical pillars enabling this: Intelligent Model Orchestration for dynamically selecting the best AI model for a task; the Agent Core, which acts as a cognitive engine to understand intent and decompose complex tasks; and Multi-agent Collaboration, allowing different AI agents to work together like a team. Qira serves as the personal gateway into this ecosystem, intended to evolve into a user's "personal AI twin."
Lenovo's Hybrid AI Technical Pillars (as stated by CTO):
- Intelligent Model Orchestration: Dynamically matches user needs with the optimal AI model.
- Agent Core: Acts as a cognitive engine to understand intent, break down tasks, and enable continuous learning.
- Multi-agent Collaboration: Enables different AI agents to collaborate on complex tasks.
Availability and Competitive Landscape
Lenovo Qira is scheduled for a phased rollout, coming first to select Lenovo devices in the first quarter of 2026, followed by supported Motorola smartphones. On Lenovo hardware, it will appear as Lenovo Qira, while on Motorola devices, it will be branded Motorola Qira. This cross-platform, cross-brand approach is a direct challenge to the more walled-garden ecosystems of competitors like Microsoft Copilot and Apple's Siri. By leveraging its vast portfolio of devices, Lenovo is betting that deeply integrated, actionable AI that unifies a user's digital experience will be a decisive advantage in the next phase of the AI assistant wars.
The Road Ahead: Promise and Scrutiny
The ambition behind Lenovo Qira and Project Maxwell is undeniable, proposing a future where AI intuitively manages digital workflows. However, its success will hinge on execution. Key challenges will include the accuracy and reliability of its autonomous task execution, the depth of its third-party app integrations, user trust in its privacy model, and the real-world utility of the wearable pin. If Lenovo can deliver on its promise of a seamless, proactive, and private cross-device intelligence, Qira could indeed redefine user expectations and become formidable competition in a crowded market. The tech world will be watching closely as the first Qira-equipped devices reach consumers in the coming months.