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Robotics

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Robotics
As China bets on tech and innovation to drive its growth, it has placed its chips on several industrial sectors that are expected to play increasingly important roles in development and trade, which will bring fresh opportunities and challenges for stakeholders. SCMP’s China Future Tech is your go-to destination for the latest news, insights, and opinions on these select industries. Explore in-depth coverage of EVs, AI, semiconductors, aerospace, robotics and biomedicine sectors. Follow us to stay ahead in China's evolving competitive landscape.
An AgiBot A2 humanoid robot learns to pick green leaves of Longjing tea under staff training at the Longjing Tea Plantation in West Lake, Hangzhou, eastern Zhejiang province on May 21, 2026. Photo: Getty Images
IPO

Chinese robot maker AgiBot targets a listing in Hong Kong’s booming market

Leading robot maker plans a Hong Kong IPO with Citic, CICC, and Morgan Stanley as sponsors.

Artificial intelligence

Heat, hardware and high stakes at China’s World AI Conference

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Artificial intelligence

China’s robot firms’ lament: if we only had a ‘brain’, and more data

China property

Tech-driven surge: new wealth fuels luxury housing boom in China’s AI stronghold

Landmark deals push Hangzhou’s luxury homes to fresh highs, powered by the country’s newly rich from start-ups and finance.

Buyers cleared all 66 units in Wangtianji’s first phase as soon as sales opened on July 16. Photo: Handout
China’s private sector

To survive China’s cost-conscious market, global brands embrace AI and robots

From L’Oréal to Coca-Cola, major multinationals are embedding cutting-edge technologies into operations to compete with local rivals.

Artificial intelligence

BrainCo claims mind-to-robot link at China’s World AI Conference

Hangzhou-based firm says users can control robots using only their thoughts via EEG headsets, marking a leap in embodied AI tech.

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Artificial intelligence

Humanoids to Huawei: what to watch as Xi attends China’s top AI event

Gathering will showcase Beijing’s push to compete across the full AI stack, from models and chips to robots, consumer devices.

People walk near the entrance of the the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center, venue for the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, in Shanghai on July 16. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

Race against Tesla: China’s Xpeng eyes 2027 global launch for viral Iron robot

CEO He Xiaopeng projects the firm will sell 1 million robots by 2030 after ramping up mass production.

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Japan

Nvidia chief Jensen Huang seals Japan robotics push after ‘yakitori summit’

Huang has shown his personable side by dining with business partners at local restaurants during his recent visits to other countries.

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US-China trade war

US must act quickly to counter China’s growing tech progress, lawmakers told

Analysts claim Washington needs to slow down Chinese momentum and speed up US technology advances now or fall well behind the Asian giant.

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Witnesses told lawmakers at a Congressional round table on Tuesday that the US needs to implement new strategies to counter Beijing’s growing prowess in the global technology industry, especially AI. Photo: Shutterstock
Technology

Opinion | Clash of the tech titans: China’s quiet industry vs loud US innovation

At the heart of the battle for AI dominance is a deeper contest between two very different leadership styles.

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The strengths of each model lie in its strategic priorities, as do the weaknesses. Photo: Shutterstock
Semiconductors

Global AI boom sees China’s chip exports nearly double in first half of year

Exports of automatic data processing machines and parts jumped more than 41 per cent to top US$138 billion.

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Robotics: Policy

Letters | Automation must be designed with the human worker in mind

Readers discuss the importance of human dignity as robots upend industry, and the negative online reactions to a viral video of an expressive schoolchild.

Artificial intelligence

‘Space race of our time’: can Europe compete with China, US in humanoid robots?

At the 2026 Machina Summit, European executives identify severe data training bottlenecks as a major obstacle – and urge policymakers to act.

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The Machina Summit in Paris, pictured on Tuesday, positions itself as Europe’s top event dedicated to physical artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics. Photo: Handout
Middle East

Mainland Chinese tech firms get more than just capital from Hong Kong

Recently listed start-ups in robotics and AI explain what the city gives them besides funding for development and expansion.

A total of 21 specialist technology firms have listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Chapter 18C. Photo: Jelly Tse
Artificial intelligence

Glass crashes slashed? Ant Group AI unit claims robot sensing advance

New perception model for embodied AI surpasses dominant rival from Meta Platforms at smaller scale with less training, firm claims.

China economy

Opinion | China’s next export shock is taking shape – as AI-powered robots

China has the manufacturing lead, the world’s biggest training ground and the leading open-source AI models to make robots an export success.

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India

In some Indian temples, robotic elephants draw crowds and controversy

The animatrons, crafted from fibreglass, iron and rubber, are intended to take the place of live elephants in Hindu temples.

Children play next to motionless Irinjadapilly Raman, a robotic elephant, at Irinjadapilly Sree Krishna Temple in Thrissur, in the southern Indian state of Kerala, in May. Photo: AP
Unitree Robotics

Unitree IPO to test valuations as venture capital floods China robotics

The robot maker plans to raise 4.2 billion yuan by selling at least 40 million shares that implies a valuation of around 42 billion yuan.

US-China relations

US lawmakers push for fewer tax breaks to reduce reliance on China technology

Congressman Nathaniel Moran also warns US business leaders of corporate America’s growing ‘toxic relationship’ with ‘adversary’ Beijing.

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China manufacturing

Video | Robot companion features lifelike skin and ‘emotional AI’

China’s UBTech targets the companion market with the U1, designed to operate safely around children, older people and pets.

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Mainland China

UBTech launches lifelike humanoid robots built for companionship in China

The unveiling of model U1, which has silicone skin and emotional AI, reflects tech firms’ drive to expand robotics beyond industrial use.

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The U1 humanoid robot. Compared with industrial robots, consumer models face stricter requirements for appearance, privacy protection and long-term human interaction. Photo: Caroline Wang
US-China relations

US must innovate faster to counter China’s tech rise, lawmakers told

Witnesses urge investment in AI, robotics and chips, warning US research cuts risk eroding America’s technological edge.

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Shenzhen

Now hiring: Nvidia’s robotics team ramps up its China talent hunt

The US chip giant says it is recruiting for more than a dozen roles as it looks to move robots from research labs to real-world deployment.

Space

Nasa turns to robotic spacecraft to save telescope from falling back to Earth

A salvage operation is set to launch as early as Tuesday to boost the Swift Observatory to a higher orbit.

An artist concept of Katalyst’s spacecraft approaching Nasa’s Swift telescope. Photo: Nasa
China technology

Opinion | Why China’s tech firms could be in for a rude IPO surprise

Public markets will not be swayed by a single big contract or impressive demonstration and will demand more of tech firms aiming for IPOs.

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A Unitree humanoid robot demonstrates kickboxing moves at the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing on June 22. Photo: Reuters
Xpeng

China’s robot rush: Morgan Stanley raises 2026 forecast to 50,000 units

China’s humanoid robot industry is scaling faster than expected, with Xpeng, Unitree and others accelerating mass production.

Artificial intelligence

Milestones for China’s medical AI as robot wins EU nod and model tops benchmark

Medbot’s teleoperated robot gains EU clearance as Baichuan-M4 clinical AI outshines global rivals in OpenAI’s HealthBench.

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