China's robot performance

China claims to possess over 1,500 AI models and showcased a series of humanoid robots at WAIC 2025, affirming its ambition to lead the global technology race.

China is stepping up investment in the field of robotics. Photo: AFP .

At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2025, China not only unveiled an impressive number of AI models but also implicitly asserted that it is reshaping the global technology order with speed, scale, and highly focused ambition. With major US tech companies absent, Beijing demonstrated its leadership role in this emerging field.

Alongside its advancements in AI modeling, China is also showcasing cutting-edge robotics technology. From acrobatic robotic dogs to humanoid fighting robots, the country's robotics industry is demonstrating its technological prowess, financial resources, and long-term vision. Amid an aging population and a reshaping global supply chain, robotics has become a vital industrial strategy for the East Asian nation.

China takes the lead in the market.

At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) held in Shanghai last week, China announced that it possesses 1,509 AI models, accounting for more than 40% of the 3,755 known models globally. This is a significant step forward in its ambition to become a leading AI power.

At the event, major Chinese technology companies such as Tencent, SenseTime, Huawei, and Alibaba all showcased new advancements in the field of AI. Tencent launched the Hunyuan 3D World Model 1.0, capable of creating detailed 3D environments, while SenseTime introduced the upgraded SenseNova V6.5, featuring superior reinforcement learning capabilities.

China accounts for over 40% of all known AI models globally. Photo: Fortune .

“AI is enabling the scaling up of multimedia content production while reducing costs across text, image, audio, and video platforms,” said analyst Wei Xiong from UBS Securities. He believes that Chinese AI models are achieving initial success in the video creation sector.

One notable factor is the explosion of open-source AI models. According to the LMArena review platform, China now possesses many of the world's leading open-source AI models. Development is supported by both the government and the private sector, allowing the community to modify and optimize the models.

Additionally, Alibaba launched a multi-modal model for use in intelligent cockpits, in collaboration with Qualcomm and Banma. Huawei introduced the 384 Ascend AI supernode system, a high-performance computing cluster, considered a domestic competitor to Nvidia's NVL72 system.

Simultaneously, SenseTime is launching a "computer shopping center" initiative with more than 10 partners such as Huawei, Hygon, Cambricon, and Biren to allow AI developers to freely combine and allocate resources like shopping at a supermarket.

New strategies in the robotics industry

Besides AI, robots were another highlight at WAIC 2025. Robotic dogs capable of somersaults, humanoid robots playing mahjong, peeling eggs, and even engaging in martial arts competitions attracted tens of thousands of attendees. According to some observations, this year's attendance could exceed 300,000, a record high since WAIC began in 2018.

Companies like Unitree, UBTech Robotics, and Agibot showcased many impressive robot models. Unitree unveiled a low-cost humanoid robot priced at just $6,000 , while ByteDance shared a video of their Mini robot performing the action of hanging clothes. These demonstrations showcased China's rapid technological development.

China has made remarkable progress in the field of robotics. Photo: Global Times .

"In the U.S., we haven't seen any truly cost-effective and reliable competitors," commented Eric Wang, regional director of Deep Robotics. According to Citigroup, the global humanoid robot market could reach $7 trillion by 2050, and China is striving to lead the race.

Behind the hype lie real concerns. Many robotics startups are under immense pressure to survive in an industry starved for capital and lacking skilled talent. Tim Wang, co-founder of Monolith Management, predicts that many will disappear within the next five years, but that this is necessary for the market's natural cleanup process.

Along with AI, humanoid robots are helping China redefine its industrial strategy as the world prepares to enter a new era.

Source: https://znews.vn/trung-quoc-dan-dau-cuoc-dua-ai-va-robot-toan-cau-post1572587.html