Integration of AI Agent and Senior-Friendly Hardware: Business Model Innovation and Investment Opportunities in Elderly Care Technology

Based on the in-depth research above, I now provide you with a

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In January 2026,

and reached a strategic cooperation to launch the product, which is the first smart senior-friendly device launched through their cooperation[1]. This cooperation marks the entry of in-depth integration of AI Agent technology and the elderly care assistive device industry into a substantive implementation stage.

Lgenie AI as an enterprise-level Agent ecological platform, relying on the accumulated foundation of Xiaojiang IoT, which has served over 500 global brands, connected with over 1,000 factories, and realized the access of 50 million devices in the past decade, has built a technical system “with MCP plugin ecology as the carrier, vertical domain models as the core, and standardized access as the support”[2]. Liqi focuses on the field of senior-friendly assistive devices, and its LINKY brand has certain influence in the elderly assistive device market. The cooperation between the two parties has realized the organic integration of AI software capabilities and hardware manufacturing capabilities.

This cooperation explores the

model, an important innovation in the business model of the elderly care technology track, with the following core characteristics:

Dimension	Traditional Model	Innovative Model
Revenue Structure	One-time hardware sales revenue	Hardware sales + continuous service subscription revenue
Customer Relationship	One-time transaction relationship	Long-term service relationship
Product Value	Static functional value	Dynamic iterative upgrade value
Manufacturer Investment	Heavy investment in hardware R&D, light post-sales service	Software-hardware collaboration, full-life-cycle operation
User Experience	Fixed functions, decreasing value	Continuous updates, increasing value

This model promotes the transformation of the hardware business model from

, which not only extends the product value chain but also opens up long-term operation space for the industry[2]. Specifically:

1. Standardized AI Module Pre-embedded in Hardware
   : Manufacturers pre-embed standardized AI capability modules in hardware products, and users can access basic intelligent functions upon purchasing the hardware
2. Service Unlocking Mechanism
   : Through subscription or pay-as-you-go methods, users can unlock advanced AI service functions, such as health monitoring data analysis, personalized health management suggestions, emergency rescue linkage services, etc.
3. Continuous Iterative Upgrade
   : AI capabilities are continuously updated and iterated through the cloud, so that the product value does not decline over time, but may instead increase in value

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China is moving towards a deeply aging society, with market demand showing explosive growth. According to data from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, by the end of 2024, the national population aged 60 and above reached

, accounting for 22.0% of the total population; among them, the population aged 65 and above was , accounting for 15.6% of the total population[3][4]. More importantly, the proportion of elderly people living alone exceeds 40%, forming a rigid demand for intelligent elderly care equipment.

According to the latest data released by the State Administration for Market Regulation, from January to April 2025,

of senior-friendly products were registered, surging year-on-year[5]. Among them:

• Mobility aids (crutches, wheelchairs, electric scooters, etc.): 6,000 new registered varieties, with a growth rate of
  1032.1%
• Daily assistive devices: 18,000 new varieties, with a growth rate of
  260%
• Home protection products: 2,000 new varieties, with a year-on-year growth rate of
  220%
• Professional care products: 1,000 new varieties, with a growth rate of
  166%

In January 2026,

, promoting the high-quality development of elderly care services and the silver economy from five aspects including promoting brand building[3][4].

The core points of the policy include:

1. Vigorously support technology-enabled elderly care services
   : Strengthen the digital and intelligent upgrading of the elderly care service field, and apply big data and cloud computing to elderly health monitoring, safety alarms, and personalized customized services
2. Encourage the development of the elderly care service robot industry
   : Promote cross-industry collaboration and technology integration of robotics, medical rehabilitation, smart home, etc.
3. Clarify the dual core of cultivating operators and developing the silver economy
   : Marking the strategic transformation of the elderly care industry from “making up for shortcomings” to “promoting development”

In addition, the “14th Five-Year Plan for National Aging Cause Development” clearly supports the R&D of smart elderly care equipment, and Beijing, Shanghai and other places provide

for intelligent elderly care products[5]. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Civil Affairs jointly carry out paired research and scenario application pilots for intelligent elderly care service robots to promote the development and application of intelligent elderly care equipment.

In sharp contrast to the growing demand for elderly care, there is a severe shortage of professional elderly care workers. According to the “2025 Survey Report on the Professional Status of Elderly Care Workers”, it is estimated that:

• In the next five years, China’s care-dependent population will increase to
  over 40 million
  , with a net increase of more than
  8.5 million
  in five years
• The shortage of care workers will exceed
  5 million

Against this background,

. Leading enterprises in fields such as artificial intelligence and medical health have entered the “smart elderly care” track, and the demand for robots to replace or assist manual care has become increasingly urgent[4].

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The core breakthrough of Lgenie AI lies in breaking through the limitations of single-point capability supply and building an ecological empowerment system similar to the

, enabling intelligent upgrading of smart hardware[2].

Capability Module	Function Description	Value Reflection
Third-Party Plugin Ecology	Integrate diversified plugins such as weather, music, educational content, and life services	Manufacturers can quickly integrate required functions, greatly shortening development time
Reusable Vertical Model Matrix	Deeply integrate professional models such as cognitive science, pedagogy, psychology, and artistic aesthetics	Manufacturers can directly reuse according to product positioning, reducing model training costs
Agent Template Plaza	Provide preset templates covering core scenarios such as intelligent interaction, scenario services, and device control	One-click copy and quick adaptation, realizing the leap from non-intelligent to “soulful” within half a day
Full-Link Standardized Access Solution	Complete access system of SDK + API + standard hardware modules	Lower access thresholds, ensuring compatibility and consistency across multiple product lines

1. MCP Plugin Ecology
   : Build a standardized plugin interaction mechanism based on the MCP (Model Context Protocol) protocol
2. Vertical Domain Model Integration
   : Integrate professional knowledge from multiple fields to form a highly adaptable and reusable model matrix
3. Edge Computing + Cloud Collaboration
   : Support the combination of local data processing and cloud-based intelligent analysis to improve response speed and protect user privacy

Lgenie AI’s ecological model has been applied in multiple fields[2]:

Scenario Field	Application Case	Core Functions
Smart Elderly Care	AI Smart Crutch, Intelligent Guide Cane	Real-time navigation, obstacle avoidance, voice interaction, health monitoring
AI Cultural Tourism	AI Traveler	Character setting, city-specific knowledge base, LBS real-time explanation
Smart Home	Smart Home Appliance Cooperation	Device control, scenario linkage, voice interaction
Emotional Companionship	Crayon Shin-chan AI Toy	Cognitive model, interactive communication, emotional companionship
Two-Wheeled Mobility	Intelligent Electric Vehicle	Intelligent navigation, safety warning, riding data analysis

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According to industry research data, it is estimated that by

, the global market size of AI-driven elderly care solutions will reach , with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of [6].

• China’s AI health management market will reach
  RMB 2.59 trillion
  in
  2027
  , with a CAGR of over
  20%
  [6]
• China’s smart elderly care equipment industry is in a period of rapid development, with the market size continuously expanding

Segment Market	Market Performance	Growth Drivers
Mobility Aids	1032.1% growth in new registered varieties	Accelerated aging, increasing number of elderly living alone
Daily Assistive Devices	260% growth in new registered varieties	Consumption upgrading, filial piety consumption by children
Home Protection Products	220% growth in new registered varieties	Improved safety awareness, government subsidy support
Professional Care Products	166% growth in new registered varieties	Shortage of care workers, increased demand from institutions

Based on this research, the

in the elderly care technology track include:

Product Type	Technical Features	Market Prospect
Millimeter Wave Radar Monitoring System	Non-contact, privacy protection, false alarm rate <0.1%	100,000 sets deployed in Hongkou, Shanghai, reducing nighttime fall accidents by 67%
AI Wearable Devices	Continuous monitoring, real-time warning, cloud-based analysis	Linkage with health data platforms to achieve proactive health management
Smart Mattress/Sleep Monitor	Vital sign monitoring, abnormal warning	Rapidly increasing penetration rate in institutional end

Application Scenario	Representative Product/Enterprise	Core Value
Delivery & Errands	5G Meal Delivery Robot	Cross-floor delivery, reducing labor costs
Security Patrol	Medical Round Robot, Patrol Robot	24-hour monitoring, risk warning
Companionship & Interaction	Emotional Companion Robot	Alleviate loneliness, cognitive training
Rehabilitation Assistance	Rehabilitation Training Robot	Personalized programs, effect tracking
Care Assistance	Bathing Assistance Robot, Dressing Assistance Robot	Reduce care burden, maintain dignity

: Two scenarios of elderly care service robots are expected to take off first: one is , assisting disabled elderly with physical rehabilitation training; the other is , assisting with walking, bathing and other daily activities[4].

Platform Type	Business Model	Investment Value
Health Management Platform	Equipment + subscription service	High user stickiness, continuous revenue
Community Health & Elderly Care Platform	Resource integration + service matching	Platform effect, network effect
Integrated Medical, Rehabilitation & Elderly Care Platform	Integration of medical, rehabilitation and elderly care	Closed-loop value, high customer unit price

Field	Key Enterprises	Investment Focus
Chips	HiSilicon (Huawei), Cambricon	AI computing power, edge computing capability
Sensors	Speed Sense Technology, SICK Technology	Accuracy, power consumption, reliability
Operating Systems	-	Ecological compatibility, security

Field	Representative Enterprises	Core Competitiveness
Elderly Care Robots	Shenzhen Zuowei Technology, UBTECH	Technology R&D, product implementation capability
Senior-Friendly Equipment	Haier Smart Health & Elderly Care, Liqi	Brand channels, manufacturing capability
System Integration	Universal Global Blue Bird	Platform capability, data integration

Field	Business Model	Growth Space
Institutional Elderly Care Services	Equipment + service package	Demand for digital transformation of institutions
Home-Based Elderly Care Services	Subscription-based service	Huge C-end market space
Community-Based Elderly Care Services	Platform-based operation	Strong policy support

Region	Characteristics	Investment Opportunities
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area	Strong innovation capability, agglomeration of tech enterprises	AI technology R&D, smart hardware manufacturing
Yangtze River Delta	Sound manufacturing foundation, strong policy support	Industrial chain integration, large-scale production
Southeast Asia	30.79% financing growth in Q1 2025	Overseas expansion opportunities, emerging markets
Europe	Strict ethical regulation, high quality requirements	High-end market, brand cooperation

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The cooperation model between Lgenie AI and Liqi provides an

for business model innovation in the elderly care technology track:

Dimension	Traditional Hardware Manufacturer	AI Platform + Hardware Manufacturer Model
Capability Composition	Emphasis on hardware, neglect of software	Dual-drive of hardware capability + AI capability
R&D Investment	Heavy asset investment in hardware R&D	Lightweight software access
Product Iteration	Long cycle, high cost	Rapid iteration, continuous evolution
Customer Value	Fixed functions	Personalized, continuous upgrading

Lgenie AI’s Agent Store model is

and can be extended to multiple senior-friendly hardware segments:

Hardware Category	AI Empowerment Direction	Market Potential
Intelligent Wheelchair	Autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, health monitoring	Rigid demand market for mobility assistance
Intelligent Walker	Gait analysis, fall warning, rehabilitation guidance	Rapidly growing rehabilitation market
Smart Mattress	Sleep monitoring, abnormal warning, health management	Increasing penetration rate in institutional end
Smart Bracelet	Heart rate monitoring, medication reminder, emergency call	Huge C-end market space
Smart Door Lock	Facial recognition, abnormal warning, remote control	Necessity for home safety

Revenue Type	Traditional Model	Innovative Model
Hardware Sales Revenue	High proportion, one-time	Medium proportion, continuous
Software Service Revenue	Low proportion, negligible	High proportion, continuous
Subscription Service Revenue	None	Continuous growth
Data Service Revenue	None	Large value-added space

: Focus on enterprises with , rather than those relying solely on one-time hardware sales.

Indicator	Traditional Model	Innovative Model
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)	High (continuous customer acquisition required)	Medium (customer acquisition via hardware, retention via services)
Customer Retention Rate	Low (one-time transaction)	High (service stickiness)
Per-Customer Value	Low (one-time purchase)	High (continuous payment + value-added services)

: Enterprises with and are more worthy of long-term investment.

Barrier Type	Traditional Model	Innovative Model
Technical Barrier	Hardware patents	AI capability, data accumulation
Scale Barrier	Production capacity scale	User scale, data scale
Ecological Barrier	Channel network	Plugin ecology, platform effect

: Focus on enterprises with and .

Screening Dimension	Evaluation Points	Suggested Weight
Technical Capability	AI algorithm, data processing, model iteration capability	High
Hardware Capability	Supply chain, manufacturing process, quality control	Medium
Platform Capability	Ecological construction, plugin compatibility, service system	High
Business Capability	Customer acquisition capability, retention capability, monetization capability	High
Policy Sensitivity	Government resources, medical insurance connection, subsidy acquisition	Medium

Enterprise Type	Investment Logic	Risk Warning
AI Agent Platform Enterprise	Possesses ecological construction capability, can empower hardware manufacturers	Need to verify commercial implementation capability
Leading Senior-Friendly Hardware Enterprise	Mature brand, channels, and manufacturing capability	Need to pay attention to AI transformation progress
Elderly Care Service Operator	Mature service network, can carry the implementation of AI products	Need to pay attention to technical capability construction
Cross-Industry Integration Enterprise	Possesses unique resource advantages (e.g., medical, real estate)	Need to pay attention to core capability focus

Time Node	Market Characteristics	Investment Strategy
Current (early 2026)	Intensive policy introduction, rapid market growth	Layout Period : Prioritize allocation of leading enterprises
2026-2027	Business model verification, competitive pattern formation	Selection Period : Focus on profit verification
2028-2029	Industry integration, head effect emergence	Harvest Period : Increase positions in leading enterprises

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Risk Type	Specific Performance	Response Suggestions
Policy Risk	Changes in medical insurance payment policies, stricter data security supervision	Pay attention to policy compliance, diversify investments
Technical Risk	Rapid iteration of AI technology, high hardware reliability requirements	Pay attention to R&D investment, patent layout
Market Risk	Intensified competition, price wars, lower-than-expected penetration rate	Pay attention to differentiation capability, customer stickiness
Operational Risk	Unstable service quality, user privacy leakage	Pay attention to operational capability, reputation building
Cash Flow Risk	Large continuous investment, long profit cycle	Pay attention to financing capability, financial health

1. AI Agent Platforms
   : Platform-based enterprises with ecological construction capabilities, such as replicable enterprises of the Lgenie AI model
2. Senior-Friendly Intelligent Hardware
   : Leading traditional senior-friendly equipment enterprises deeply integrated with AI
3. Elderly Care Service Robots
   : Enterprises with technological leading advantages in specific scenarios
4. Smart Elderly Care Operation Platforms
   : Operation enterprises with service networks and data analysis capabilities