At CES 2026, Lenovo outlined its latest approach to embedded artificial intelligence with the introduction of Qira, a system-level intelligence designed to operate across multiple devices rather than within a single app. The same experience will appear as Motorola Qira on compatible devices from Motorola, reflecting a shared platform intended to follow users across form factors and use cases.
Positioned as a response to the growing fragmentation of AI tools, Qira is presented as an ambient layer built directly into operating systems on PCs, tablets, smartphones, and other connected hardware. Instead of asking users to open a chatbot or switch applications, the system is designed to remain available in the background, drawing on context such as current tasks, recent activity, and user preferences to offer assistance when needed. Lenovo describes this as a move away from prompt-driven interaction toward something more continuous, though the company emphasises that activation and data use remain subject to user control.
The core idea behind Qira is consistency. A single intelligence is meant to persist as users move between devices, maintaining awareness of documents, conversations, and workflows. In practical terms, this includes suggesting next steps during ongoing work, helping draft or refine text within existing documents, summarising activity after periods of inactivity, and supporting meetings through transcription and translation features when enabled. Visual and creative tasks are addressed through focused modes such as Creator Zone, which aims to reduce distractions while editing images or generating visual assets.
Lenovo says Qira relies on a hybrid AI architecture that prioritises on-device processing where possible, limiting the need to send personal data to the cloud. Cloud-based services are used to extend functionality, with privacy, consent, and transparency positioned as foundational elements rather than optional settings. This balance reflects broader industry pressure to reconcile increasingly capable AI systems with regulatory scrutiny and user expectations around data protection.
The platform is supported by an ecosystem of external partners that provide specialised capabilities while remaining integrated into a single interface. These include Microsoft Azure for local-to-cloud coordination on Windows devices, Stability AI for on-device image generation, and productivity and knowledge tools from Notion and Perplexity. Travel-related queries can draw on inventory from Expedia and Vrbo, with handoff to booking services when required.
Qira will begin rolling out on select Lenovo devices in the first quarter of 2026, followed by expansion to supported Motorola smartphones. Existing users of Lenovo’s AI Now platform are expected to receive the update over the air. As hardware makers increasingly compete on software experience rather than specifications alone, Lenovo’s approach reflects a broader shift toward tightly integrated, cross-device AI systems that aim to be present throughout the working day rather than confined to isolated moments of use.
