Beyond the panel: Insights from BOE IPC 2025 on smart cockpits and AI displays

From Sept. 11–14 in Beijing, BOE hosted its annual Innovation Partner Conference (IPC) 2025 under the theme “Empower IoT with Display, AI Ignites the Future.”

This year’s conference was not only a showcase of new products, but it also marked a strategic shift in how displays are evolving from passive visual interfaces into intelligent, interactive hubs that connect AI, IoT and mobility.

As participants in the Smart Vehicle Connectivity Summit on “AI’s Role Shaping the Smart Cockpit Revolution,” analysts from WardsAuto’s sister company Omdia had the opportunity to witness firsthand how BOE and its partners are framing the future of the smart cockpit. Here are the key takeaways from IPC 2025, as relates to the Smart Cockpit.

AI-Powered Displays – From Passive to Predictive

The central message was clear: AI is transforming displays from static pixels into intelligent nodes within IoT.

At IPC, the showcase presented the full spectrum of in-cabin experiences through four integrated themes – visual, acoustic, interactive and entertainment – all deeply integrated with AI under the concept of “AI-powered renewal with immersive audiovisual excellence.”

Grouped highlights from BOE’s demos included the following:

Immersive: Micro LED Panoramic HUD and 44.8-in. (114-cm) 9K PHUD, offering adaptive brightness, gesture control and panoramic visualization.
Transparent: Electroluminescent windshield displays with ultra-high light transmission, and floating screens suspended image creation for rich interactive scenarios.
Adaptive: Dual-axis swing screens and distant-view headrest displays that transform to meet driver or passenger needs.

Beyond resolution, BOE introduced intelligence-driven features:

Intelligent perception: Biometric steering wheels, ultrasonic fingerprint sensors and adaptive lighting.
Sound-driven intelligence: AI-powered amplifiers enabling panoramic sound and emergency broadcasting.

These innovations reflect a broader industry trend that smart cockpits are shifting from static layouts to dynamic, learning-based systems that anticipate driver and passenger needs. The competitive axis is moving from resolution to cognition. Future displays will compete as much on predictive intelligence as on pixels.

Smart Cockpit Direction – AI-Centric, Experience-Led

While the full spectrum of AI applications is still unfolding, the shift is already underway. The industry increasingly recognizes cockpit displays as the user touchpoints where platforms orchestrate seamless interactions.

BOE showcased practical use cases such as:

• Predictive brightness and contextual adaptation

• Sound–display multimodal HMI

• AI-enhanced driver assistance (gesture, gaze, and intent recognition)

At IPC, Li Auto and NIO unveiled AI-first cockpits that integrate immersive sound, dynamic visual displays and intelligent assistants in premium EVs, demonstrating how software-defined vehicles (SDVs) are reshaping in-car experiences to stay innovative and user-centric. These innovations reflect a broader momentum in China, which now leads in iteration speed, cockpit AI adoption and full-stack integration. As this rapid progress sets new benchmarks, the next challenge is global scalability by building adaptable platforms that serve diverse markets, manage costs effectively and unlock new revenue streams through cockpit feature monetization.

China’s Edge-AI Strategy

Chinese OEMs are leading the charge. They are building in-house AI capabilities and deploying LLM-based assistants. According to Omdia’s 2025 Smart Cockpit Survey, Chinese OEMs show a distinct preference for localized, edge-based AI that delivers real-time, low-latency performance.

Practical examples are already emerging. NIO’s NOMI assistant has evolved into a multimodal, LLM-enhanced companion, while Li Auto’s Magic Carpet cockpit emphasizes adaptive, AI-driven experiences.

By moving intelligence onto the device, they achieve real-time, low-latency processing and reduced cloud reliance, supporting compliance with data security regulations and local needs.

Globally, 80% of industry leaders who participated in our survey expect broad adoption of edge-based LLMs by 2026–2028. These will likely take the form of chipset-based small LLMs, powering infotainment, ADAS, and HMI while balancing efficiency and personalization.

China’s edge-AI focus accelerates cockpit AI deployment, but the long-term challenge remains. Can the industry address ROI, compliance and trust issues fast enough to scale globally?

BOE’s Future Role – From Supplier to Experience Architect

BOE underscored its ambition with bold commitments. It recently announced plans to invest ¥50 billion ($7 billion) in R&D and ¥500 billion ($70 billion) in procurement over the next three years.

By devoting 0.5% of its total revenue annually to AI R&D to promote the application of artificial intelligence, BOE is positioning its future aims beyond panels. Investment is ramping up in agentic AI, immersive cockpit design and Internet of Things (IoT) digital solutions. These efforts aim to enhance personalization, improve convenience and unlock monetization opportunities, transforming the cockpit into a platform for continuous engagement.

This also signals a shift from serving solely as a panel supplier to becoming an ecosystem enabler, with a clear ambition to evolve into a hybrid role that combines hardware provision with experience integration. To stand out from competitors, panel suppliers are expanding into emerging sectors such as AI and developing the capability to form strategic international partnerships. Navigating this transition is complex, requiring a move beyond hardware toward integrated experiences and ecosystem-driven innovation, especially in the face of price pressures and intensifying global competition.