Huawei launches HarmonyOS 7 with agentic AI and glass-inspired design

Huawei unveiled HarmonyOS 7 in developer beta Friday at its annual conference in Dongguan, China, with a stable release expected this fall.pandaily
The OS features an AI agent framework connecting over 2,000 specialized agents, with Huawei claiming a 90%-plus task execution success rate.scmp
The “Liquid Glass” design mirrors similar aesthetics from Apple ↗0.70% and Samsung, as Huawei targets Apple’s AI gap in China.gsmarena

Huawei Unveils HarmonyOS 7 With Glass-Inspired Design and Agentic AI at Developer Conference

Huawei officially launched HarmonyOS 7 in developer beta on Friday at its annual Huawei Developer Conference (HDC 2026) in Dongguan, China, introducing a glass-like visual overhaul, an agent-first AI architecture, and a claimed 15% performance improvement over the previous version.androidheadlines

A New Visual Language

The most immediately visible change is a “Liquid Glass” design language featuring translucent buttons, sliders, and system controls throughout the interface — a direction that mirrors similar moves by Apple with iOS 26 and Samsung with One UI 9 earlier this year. The lock screen gains 3D spatial effects that convert flat images into depth-layered visuals with movement, while menus and system elements adopt responsive, light-reactive styling.youtube

Richard Yu Chengdong, chairman of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, described HarmonyOS 7 as an “all-scenario intelligent operating system” that marks Huawei’s entry into the “agent era,” according to the South China Morning Post.scmp

Agent-First AI Architecture

The centerpiece of the update is the HarmonyOS Intelligent Agent Framework 2.0, which shifts the OS from a traditional app platform toward what Huawei calls an intelligent task platform. The framework enables AI agents to decompose complex tasks, call tools autonomously, and execute commands across multiple apps. Huawei claims the system achieves a task execution success rate above 90%.pandaily

The upgraded XiaoYi assistant can now understand context, remember past interactions, and connect with more than 2,000 specialized AI agents, according to the South China Morning Post’s reporting from the event. Huawei describes its AI approach as “intent as a service.”gizchina

Availability and Competition

The developer beta is available now for supported devices in China, with a stable public release expected in the fall. The update will span smartphones, tablets, PCs, wearables, and IoT devices.citynewsservice

The launch positions Huawei in direct competition with Apple’s iOS 27 in the Chinese market, where Apple has struggled to deliver AI features due to regulatory constraints. As the South China Morning Post noted, Huawei is seeking to capitalize on Apple’s China AI gap with HarmonyOS 7’s agent capabilities.scmp