China\’s AI dreams take shape through human‑like robots
Shanghai’s World AI Conference Showcases China’s Robotics Talent
At the World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, dozens of humanoid robots performed a variety of “party tricks” that highlighted China’s rapid progress in artificial intelligence and robotics.
Government Announces New AI Governance Initiative
- Premier Li Qiang opened the conference by announcing a new organisation for cooperation on AI governance, stressing the need to balance development benefits with potential risks.
- Transwarp R&D Director Yang Yifan noted a large demand for data, scenario models, and artificial construction, describing an overall atmosphere of lively activity.
Humanoid Robots Deliver Surreal Entertainment
- A drum‑playing droid at one booth drummed out of time to Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” while a man in safety goggles hyped the crowd.
- Other robots, some wearing overalls or baseball caps, ran assembly lines, played curling against human opponents, or dished soft drinks with uneven precision.
- Although most robots still displayed jerky movements, the increasing sophistication year‑on‑year was unmistakable.
Unitree’s G1 Android – A Fluid Shadow‑Boxing Champion
Unitree, a Hangzhou‑based robotics company, displayed its G1 android, a four‑foot tall robot with a two‑hour battery life. The G1 executed kicks, pivots, and punches while maintaining balance as it shadow‑boxed around a ring.
Earlier, Unitree announced plans to launch a full‑size humanoid, the R1, priced under $6,000.
Digital Humans – AI Agents without Hardware
- Baidu showcased a new generation of “digital humans,” AI agents modeled on real people that can think, decide, and collaborate.
- In a six‑hour e‑commerce broadcast, a digital human of a well‑known streamer and another avatar outperformed the human streamer in several sales categories.
- More than ten thousand businesses already use this technology, according to department head Wu Chenxia.
- When asked about job impacts, Wu emphasized that AI is a tool that improves quality and saves time, but still requires human input.
Visitor Reactions – Excitement Trumps Concern
Most visitors to the WAIC expo seemed enthusiastic about the back‑flipping dog robots and other demo robots, not worried about potential ramifications.
Transwarp’s Yang Yifan remarked that China’s AI development enjoys a good foundation of data and a wealth of application scenarios, opening many opportunities for experimentation.
