Concrete humanoid robots in the Chinese AI ambition

Craft beer, Majong performances, stacking shelves, boxing, dozens of humanoid robots from Shanghai’s World AI Conference (WAIC) this weekend embodied the growth of Chinese AI talent and ambitions.

The annual event is ready to showcase China’s advances in the ever-evolving field of artificial intelligence, and the government aims to position the country as a world leader in both technology and regulation when snapping on the heels of the US.

Prime Minister Li Qiang, who opened the event on Saturday, announced that China will establish a new organization for cooperation on AI governance.

But at the spongy exposition next door, mood was more whimsical than it was involved.

“In terms of data, scenarios, model training or artificial construction, the demand is currently very strong. The overall atmosphere in all these areas is very lively,” says Yang Yifan of TransWarp, a Shanghai-based AI platform provider.

This year’s WAIC is the first time since the groundbreaking moment of Chinese AI in January this year, when startup DeepSeek unveils its top system in the US at a clear percentage of costs.

Organizers said the forum involves more than 800 companies and showcases over 3,000 products.

In one booth, the robot played drums, half beats played outside the hours, and Queens’ “Will Will Rock You” while the guy in safe goggles and security vest hyped the laughing crowd.

They offered other droids, people wearing work overalls or baseball caps, manned assembly lines, curls with human enemies or dispensed soft drinks.

Most of the machines on display were still a bit jerky, but a refined increase from the previous year was clear.

The Chinese government has poured support for robotics, some of the experts who believe China may already have an advantage over the US.

Hangzhou-based Unitree’s Stall is a G1 Android (130cm tall (4 feet) with 2 hours of battery life) that maintains relatively fluidity and balance when caught in a shadow box box around the ring, packed with punches.

Ahead of the meeting’s opening, Unitree announced that it will launch the full-size humanoid R1 for under $6,000.

“Digital person”

However, most high-tech helpers do not require hardware.

At the expo, in the form of a middle-aged businessman, a slightly covered woman and an ancient warrior, AI companions were held by people from the screen and asked what the day was like.

On Saturday, Tech Giant Baidu unveiled an AI agent modeled after a new generation of “digital humans” technology: Real People, who say they can “think, make decisions and collaborate.”

The company recently conducted a six-hour e-commerce broadcast hosted by a well-known streamer and another avatar, “Digital Human.”

The two agents have defeated human streamers’ debut sales in several categories, Baidu said.

He uses the technology every day, the department’s director told AFP.

When asked about the impact on employment, one of the main concerns raised around AI adoption, Wu argued that AI is a tool that should be used to improve quality and save time and effort, and still requires human input.

In China, the integration of AI into everyday life is beginning to gain a pace.

At Waic, Baidu announced that he has been granted permission to operate a completely unmanned Robotaxis in parts of the large Pudong district, his first foray into downtown Shanghai.

For now, visitors to the Waic Expo appeared to be worried about the potential impact of the backflip dog robots that they were excited to watch.

“When it comes to AI development in China, there is a relatively good foundation of data and a wealth of application scenarios,” says Yang of Transwarp.

“There are many more opportunities for experimentation.”

©2025 AFP