At Digital Trade Expo, Robots Shift From Performing to Working
The Fifth Global Digital Trade Expo opened in Hangzhou, drawing more than 2,000 exhibitors across a 170,000-square-meter venue. Organizers said over 50,000 professional buyers from 163 countries and regions registered to attend. The event underscores China's push to commercialize robotics and embodied AI.
On the show floor, robots were everywhere. They played soccer, brewed coffee, sewed clothes, lifted heavy objects, and even performed surgery. These demonstrations highlighted advances in dexterity, mobility, and human-robot interaction. Exhibitors showcased robots for both industrial and consumer scenarios. The exhibits ranged from entertainment to high-precision medical tasks.
A reporter touring the event observed a growing impression: robots are accelerating from being able to move and perform to being able to work. The shift suggests the industry is moving beyond spectacle toward practical applications in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and services. Analysts say such events signal a transition from lab prototypes to deployable systems, making the expo a key window into the pace of embodied AI adoption.