AI prowess redefining business niches

Alongside established names such as Lenovo, Hisense and TCL, a new cohort of embodied intelligence firms — many attending for the first time — arrived with commercial-ready products, firm order pipelines and clearly defined deployment scenarios.

Chinese humanoid companies including AgiBot, Noetix Robotics, and the Beijing Embodied Artificial Intelligence Robotics Innovation Center made their CES debut. Others, including Unitree Robotics, Galaxea, Deep Robotics and Fourier, formed what organizers describe as an unprecedented "Chinese robot matrix".

Unitree Robotics, which drew crowds at CES 2025 with its robot dogs and humanoid prototypes that sold out on the spot, will return with its H1 humanoid robot.

Equipped with 360-degree environmental perception and a payload capacity of up to 15 kilograms, the system is now targeting industrial inspection and logistics scenarios. More significantly, Unitree is moving toward a "robot-as-a-service" model, exporting turnkey automation solutions rather than standalone machines.

AgiBot showcased its full product line in the US for the first time, including upgraded dexterous hands and core components. Its Expedition A1 robot has already been deployed in 3C electronics manufacturing and automotive assembly lines in China.

The company said that it combines open hardware interfaces with deep integration into domestic manufacturing giants, allowing it to accumulate large volumes of real-world industrial data, an asset it sees as critical to global expansion.

In fact, China's AI momentum is inseparable from policy design. As early as 2017, Beijing released a national AI development plan outlining strategic goals through 2030. The recent Central Economic Work Conference also elevated AI related initiatives to one of top priorities for 2026.

The results are measurable. China now hosts more than 9 million standard racks in active data centers, ranking second globally in total computing capacity. According to official data, the number of AI-focused computing centers built, under construction or planned exceeds 100 across 30 cities.

IDC estimated China's intelligent computing power would reach 1,037 exaflops in 2025, nearly tripling by 2028. The compound annual growth rate for intelligent computing between 2023 and 2028 is projected at 46.2 percent.

The World Intellectual Property Organization reported that between 2014 and 2023, China filed more than 38,000 generative AI patents — six times the number filed by the US.

As Chinese AI spreads, so does Beijing's engagement in global governance. China has advocated principles such as people-centered development, inclusive access and collaborative governance in international forums.

Looking ahead, experts argue that emerging markets will be central to the next phase of expansion.

Wang Peng, a researcher at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, said: "Companies should not limit themselves to Europe and the US. Southeast Asia needs affordable, durable factory robots. The Middle East needs heat-resistant inspection systems. Africa needs robots for basic medical support."

"Localization and partnerships would be key, and urged firms to develop differentiated models suited to high temperatures or low costs, establish joint ventures and R&D centers, and participate actively in international standards-setting," he added.

chengyu@chinadaily.com.cn