China kicked off the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing on Wednesday, with companies showcasing the country's expanding robotics industry as it looks to move the technology beyond demonstrations and into factories and other real-world settings.
Organizers said around 3,000 products would be showcased during the five-day event. Despite the conference's name, there was no sign of other countries exhibiting, according to ABC News.
One of the main attractions on opening day was the booth of Unitree, one of China's leading humanoid robot makers. Its models boxed, danced, and one played ping pong with a human opponent. The opening of the conference coincided with Unitree's stock market debut in Shanghai.
UBTECH, another leading Chinese robotics company, brought several industrial models. Some demonstrated tasks such as moving components around as they might on a factory floor. Among those drawing the most attention were humanoid robots with lifelike faces, promoted for emotional care. Jiao Jichao, deputy president of UBTECH Robotics, said one of its emotional-care humanoids can talk, make various facial expressions, rotate its neck and move its hands. The price for an individual buyer: 168,000 yuan, more than $24,000.
The conference opened weeks after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters, citing national security risks. The prohibition also covers new imports of quadruped robots, often called robot dogs. The FCC said advanced robots could pose cybersecurity and other national security risks, in a move widely seen as targeting China.
Despite the increasingly sophisticated displays at the conference, experts said many humanoid robots remain more impressive as performers than as practical workers. At one booth, a robot attempted a seemingly simple household task: folding a shirt. After several minutes of trying, it could not do it.
