Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
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**ZDNET’s Comprehensive Highlights**
Lenovo and Motorola have officially introduced a new creation — Qira, an artificial intelligence platform that aims to function as a cohesive, cross‑device assistant throughout their combined technology ecosystems. Qira is engineered to operate seamlessly across all of your interconnected devices, ensuring continuity whether you are on a Lenovo laptop, a Motorola smartphone, or any other compatible gadget. Complementing this rollout, the companies also revealed an innovative AI‑powered pin, a wearable device designed to embed Qira into your everyday activities in a hands‑free, intuitive manner.

While Lenovo and Motorola generated considerable excitement at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) with their latest suite of hardware — notably the eagerly awaited foldable Motorola Razr Fold — their most significant revelation arguably came from the sphere of artificial intelligence. Beyond hardware, the joint announcement of the Lenovo Qira platform signaled a strategic shift toward experiences that merge hardware excellence with ambient intelligence.

**An Expansive AI Ecosystem**
Lenovo Qira is envisioned as a form of digital intelligence that transcends the simplicity of conventional chatbots. Unlike text‑bound assistants such as ChatGPT, Qira possesses the capability to carry out actionable tasks across a diverse range of devices and applications. For instance, it can facilitate the transfer of files between smartphones and computers, coordinate actions between connected applications, and operate both online and offline to maintain productivity regardless of network conditions.

According to Dan Dery, Vice President of AI Ecosystem in Lenovo’s Intelligent Devices Group, “Lenovo Qira is not just another digital assistant — it represents a new, more organic manifestation of intelligence distributed throughout your devices.” Dery further explained that the company’s ultimate objective is to transform the user’s relationship with technology by making artificial intelligence feel less like a rigid tool and more like a dynamic, cooperative presence that evolves continuously alongside its user.

**A Glimpse into Wearable Integration**
In line with this vision, Motorola also showcased a groundbreaking wearable prototype that incorporates Qira at its core. Although this device is still a proof of concept, early demonstrations suggest that it embodies substantial potential. The wearable integrates AI capabilities directly into personal accessories, enabling Qira to exist not solely as software but as a tangible companion embedded within daily human interactions.

**An Ambient, Context‑Aware Intelligence System**
Lenovo describes Qira as a personal ambient intelligence platform — one that remains perceptive, contextually aware, and broadly accessible across numerous devices. This system relies on what Lenovo terms a “fused knowledge base,” a continually evolving repository that merges the user’s chosen interactions, notes, documents, and memories collected from across their devices. Through this synthesis, Qira constructs a living, adaptive model of the user’s digital world. This persistent awareness allows Qira to deliver responses and suggestions that feel remarkably intuitive, reducing the need for repetitive explanations and eliminating the friction of context switching.

For example, features like “Next Move” can analyze what the user is currently doing and then offer contextually appropriate recommendations for subsequent tasks. Another feature, “Catch Me Up,” assists users in quickly reviewing missed activities, summarizing key developments that occurred during their absence. By doing so, Qira helps restore continuity and enhances productivity, providing a sense of natural flow across tasks and devices.

Because data privacy and security are paramount concerns, Lenovo emphasized that user consent and privacy are foundational principles in Qira’s design. Its hybrid architecture prioritizes local, on‑device processing whenever possible, ensuring that sensitive personal data remains within the user’s control. Only in cases where remote processing becomes unavoidable does Qira communicate with Lenovo’s cloud services, which employ rigorous encryption standards and multi‑layered safeguards.

Lenovo intends to begin Qira’s deployment in the first quarter of 2026, starting with select Lenovo devices before expanding to Motorola smartphones. Notably, while the underlying intelligence remains identical, branding will differ slightly depending on the product: users will encounter “Lenovo Qira” on PC systems and “Motorola Qira” on mobile devices.

**Project Maxwell: Rethinking the AI Pin**
In parallel with Qira’s launch, Motorola’s 312 Labs unveiled “Project Maxwell,” a new proof of concept that aims to address past shortcomings of AI pins, which have historically struggled to gain mass adoption. Unlike its predecessors, Project Maxwell introduces a wearable AI companion that blends unobtrusive design with meaningful functionality. Officially described as an “AI Perceptive Companion Proof of Concept,” the pin leverages Motorola Qira to facilitate productivity and convenience in moments when users might prefer not to handle their phones directly.

This small yet powerful device includes an integrated camera, allowing Qira to perceive visual context — essentially seeing what the user sees. This contextual understanding enables it to deliver more relevant and accurate assistance. The pin’s design also includes a magnetic backing and a chain attachment, offering flexibility in how it can be worn, such as clipped to clothing or worn as a necklace for constant accessibility.

During live demonstrations, Project Maxwell exhibited its capabilities by executing a variety of common tasks, such as providing navigation assistance, arranging transportation via Uber, and sending text messages entirely through voice interaction. Remarkably, each command was carried out to completion without the user needing to touch or even glance at their smartphone. This frictionless experience demonstrates the seamless integration of hardware and AI that Lenovo and Motorola intend to make standard across their ecosystems.

One of the project’s most intriguing aspects is its transparency. While it can execute commands autonomously, users who wish to observe its cognitive process can view each step in real time. In the Uber scenario, for example, Qira opened the app, input the destination, confirmed payment details, and finalized the request for a car — all autonomously but visibly traceable. Similarly, when sending a text, Qira launched the messaging app, selected the correct contact, typed the dictated message, and sent it, showcasing methodical precision in task automation.

By encapsulating advanced agentic assistance in such a compact and aesthetically appealing form factor, Motorola’s Project Maxwell represents a tangible step toward a future where AI companions exist not only on screens but in the physical environment surrounding users. Together, Lenovo and Motorola’s innovations at CES 2026 illustrate a broader movement toward computing experiences that feel less mechanical and more human — experiences defined by responsiveness, awareness, and adaptability.

In essence, Qira’s unveiling signals more than another AI entry; it marks the emergence of a unified intelligence framework designed to dissolve the barriers between devices, creating a cohesive environment where technology anticipates, assists, and learns continuously — resonating with how people naturally think, work, and live.

Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/lenovo-motorola-ai-assistant-wearable-ces-2026/