This afternoon, at the Huawei Developer Conference (HDC 2026), Yu Chengdong, Huawei's Executive Director, announced his return to lead the Pangu Large Model project and proclaimed on-site, “In my lexicon, there's no room for second place—only first!” He stated candidly that he aims to propel his team past the competition, ensuring the Pangu Large Model emerges as the industry leader.

Those acquainted with Yu Chengdong recognize that this declaration is far from impulsive. Interviews from programs like “Meeting with Big Names” and public records reveal that Yu has consistently excelled academically, even achieving the top science score in his county. Since joining Huawei, he has spearheaded various business sectors, including wireless, terminals, and automotive, always striving for excellence.

Yu once articulated the rationale behind his pursuit of first place: “If we aim for second, we risk becoming a third- or fourth-tier enterprise. If we aim for first, even if we fall short initially, persistence will eventually lead us to the top.” It is clear that Yu Chengdong harbors a distinct personal ethos, one that demands excellence and rejects mediocrity.

This mindset epitomizes a high standard of self-imposed expectations and self-motivation. In the fiercely competitive tech industry, particularly under the intense pressure of sanctions and containment faced by Huawei, striving for the highest goal enables the company to maintain strategic focus, steering clear of distorted actions or complacency.

In my view, Yu Chengdong's vow to make the Pangu Large Model the best serves as a “wartime mobilization” in a specific context, signaling Huawei's official foray into the AI arena. Whether it was breaking through in the mobile phone business or advancing in intelligent driving and now the Pangu Large Model, Huawei consistently encounters formidable international rivals such as Tesla FSD and OpenAI. The difficulty in surmounting these barriers inadvertently elevates the value of achieving number one status.

As a business leader, Yu Chengdong's bold statements function as both an internal rallying cry and an external show of confidence. During critical periods of technological breakthroughs, this unwavering confidence is crucial for stabilizing morale and attracting top talent (he called on outstanding young people worldwide to join the Pangu team at the conference), thereby maximizing the boost in confidence and fostering consensus.

Simultaneously, Yu Chengdong's proclamation of aiming for first place aids in capturing user mindshare. Whether in the consumer market (mobile phones, automobiles) or the business market (large models), consumers and clients tend to remember only the top brands. By repeatedly emphasizing the “number one” label, Huawei can establish a distinctive brand perception amid fierce competition, simplifying user decision-making.

So, the question remains: Is Yu Chengdong boasting this time, or can he truly deliver? I believe the answer lies in the results, and time will eventually provide clarity. He is known as “Yu Big Mouth,” yet many trust him because his past bold claims have often materialized.

① Verified Achievements: Huawei's wireless base stations once claimed the top spot globally; smartphones briefly led global shipments in 2020; HarmonyOS has grown from scratch to become the second-largest mobile operating system in the Chinese market.

② Areas Currently Under Scrutiny: In the intelligent automotive sector, Yu Chengdong asserts that Huawei's cockpit and intelligent driving systems far surpass Tesla's. While this claim is contentious within the industry, Huawei ADS indeed ranks among the top in China for localization adaptation, multi-sensor fusion, and actual user experience, even outperforming FSD in certain scenarios.

Regarding his recent statement about “making the Pangu Large Model the industry leader,” the AI large model field is currently fiercely competitive. Whether Huawei can truly achieve first place despite limitations in algorithms, ecosystems, and computing power remains to be seen and will be tested by time and the market. The challenges are indeed significant, which is why the outside world remains cautious about his statements.

It is worth noting that the definition of “first place” remains ambiguous. The criteria for being number one vary across different dimensions (technical indicators, market share, user experience, commercialization capabilities). The “first place” that Yu Chengdong refers to often carries a strong subjective connotation. The public and the industry should rationally distinguish whether it is marketing rhetoric or based on objective indicators.

Overall, when Yu Chengdong declares, “Only first place exists in my lexicon,” I am not surprised at all, as this aligns perfectly with his “Yu Big Mouth” persona and his consistent style of being bold and unpretentious. This latest statement essentially reflects Huawei's offensive strategic posture under extreme survival pressure. It is both a projection of the entrepreneur's personal character and a necessary spiritual weapon for the company to survive and strive for leadership in adversity.

For the outside world, there is no need to be overly critical of Yu Chengdong's absolute remarks, nor should one blindly believe in his promises. A more rational approach would be to view this as a window to observe the determination of Chinese technology companies to break through and to pay attention to whether their products and technologies truly create irreplaceable value for users in practical applications. After all, being number one in the market is not achieved through mere declarations but through actual performance. What do you think?