As reported by the Global Times, China showcased over 150 humanoid robots at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2025 in Shanghai, clearly marking its largest and most advanced exhibition as of now. Over 80 companies that specialize in embodied intelligence participated, and more than 60 new robot models were introduced for the first time ever.
A dual-arm robotic system that was powered by Tencent Robotics X’s VLA large language model (LLM) was introduced by Dobot Robotics. The robot could hold natural conversations and was aware of its environment. In addition, it was capable of real-time motion planning and closed-loop feedback for dynamic error correction. Unitree Robotics presented a boxing robot capable of drumming and calligraphy. The company also launched its 25-kilogram Unitree R1 humanoid that was equipped with a multimodal LLM combining voice and vision for flexibility.
Deep Robotics unveiled the upgraded X30 quadruped robot and a consumer model called Lite3, both of which support real-time AI dialogue. Also debuting were Keenon’s bipedal service robot XMAN for hospitality, and Cyborg Robotics’ Cyborg-R01, the first heavy-duty humanoid from China designed for industrial automation.
Experts at WAIC noted that the sector is moving quickly from concept to application, with robots expected to perform millimeter-level tasks while already achieving centimeter-level precision. A report released by Morgan Stanley in May said that China is becoming a major player in the humanoid robotics space, thanks to its strong manufacturing and data resources, and now sits in a position to help shape global standards.
