- New platform aims to cut hardware development time from months to hours
- Tool links hardware, apps, cloud services and AI agents through natural-language prompts
Tuya Smart (涂鸦智能), a Hangzhou-based AIoT developer, has launched an end-to-end physical AI generation platform that allows developers to build connected hardware products using natural-language prompts.
This rollout comes as AI companies across China race to simplify the creation of smart devices and autonomous agents.
The company recently unveiled Tuya Cobuilder, a system designed to automate the full process of AI hardware development — from product definition to functional prototypes running on physical devices.
Traditionally, bringing AI-enabled hardware to market has required engineering teams to handle device capability configuration, networking, app interfaces, cloud synchronization and over-the-air software updates, often taking several months to complete.
Tuya Smart said Tuya Cobuilder integrates hardware, mobile apps, cloud infrastructure and AI agents into a unified workflow.
Developers can input product concepts in plain language, after which the system automatically generates device specifications, app control panels, AI agents and factory firmware based on capabilities accumulated through Tuya’s developer platform.
The company said a prototype for an AI pet feeder that proactively chats with its owner could previously take several months to develop but can now be assembled by a single product manager within an afternoon.
Tuya Cobuilder supports both no-code and low-code modes, allowing users to build connected AI products without extensive hardware engineering or cloud-development expertise.
The product is currently in internal testing, with users able to access limited trial credits during the beta phase.
Tuya Smart said the platform is built on years of investment in AI and Internet-of-Things infrastructure, including its IoT Runtime system, global cloud infrastructure, standardized device models, OTA update architecture, multi-model routing systems and T-RTC real-time communications technology.
