The 2025 World Robot Conference convened in Beijing from August 8 to 12, centering on the pivotal theme “Making Robots Smarter, Making Embodied Intelligence More Intelligent.” Hosted by the Chinese Institute of Electronics and the World Robot Cooperation Organization, this landmark event underscored the rapid evolution of robotics, driven by integrations with artificial intelligence, biomimetics, and advanced materials. The conference featured extensive exhibitions, competitive tournaments, and forums, emphasizing the transformative impact of robotics across various sectors, with a strong focus on embodied intelligence and embodied robots as central to future advancements.
Over the past decade, the World Robot Conference has grown into a premier international platform for showcasing innovations, fostering industry collaboration, and discussing trends. This year’s edition highlighted how embodied intelligence is reshaping robotics, enabling machines to perceive, reason, and act with greater autonomy. The following sections provide a detailed account of the proceedings, insights from global leaders, and emerging trends in embodied robots and intelligent systems.
Opening Ceremony: Setting the Stage for Intelligent Robotics
The开幕式 featured addresses from prominent figures who emphasized the strategic importance of robotics and embodied intelligence in global economic and social development. Wan Gang, President of the China Association for Science and Technology, highlighted in his speech that over the past ten years, China’s robotics innovation has consistently adhered to the strategic主线 of empowering the real economy and supporting social development. He noted that humanoid robots, as advanced forms of robotics and key carriers of embodied intelligence, are increasingly vital in production manufacturing, logistics, safety, home services, and healthcare. China’s focused efforts on this frontier are driving new consumption, industries, and employment, thereby enhancing economic growth and public welfare. The association remains committed to advancing technological innovation and industrial development in robotics.
Kathleen A. Kramer, President and CEO of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), congratulated the conference on its success, pointing out that AI is significantly enhancing robots’ capabilities in perception, cognition, decision-making, and control. She reaffirmed IEEE’s long-standing collaboration with the Chinese Institute of Electronics in academic exchanges, standardization, and talent cultivation, expressing hope to strengthen ties through the conference and share in the momentum of robotics development.
Yin Yong, Mayor of Beijing, elaborated on the city’s role as a leader in robotics, with the humanoid robot industry accounting for approximately one-third of the national total and a nearly 40% growth in revenue in the first half of the year. He emphasized Beijing’s commitment to building an internationally influential robotics innovation hub, supported by a concentration of specialized “little giant” enterprises in robotics.
Zou Ciyong, Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), highlighted the fusion of robotics and AI in reshaping industrial modernization and boosting productivity. He described humanoid robots as the pinnacle of intelligent machines and the optimal载体 of embodied intelligence, accelerating innovation in social production and daily life. UNIDO aims to collaborate with partners like the Chinese Institute of Electronics to advance technology, standards, and international exchanges, aligning with the goal of making embodied intelligence more intelligent for sustainable industrial development in developing countries.
Xin Guobin, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology, reflected on the conference’s decade-long journey, noting the leap in global robotics with enhanced intelligence, expanded applications, and gathered innovations. He reported that China’s robotics industry saw a 27.8% year-on-year growth in revenue in the first half of the year, with industrial and service robot production increasing by 35.6% and 25.5%, respectively, maintaining its position as the world’s largest industrial robot market for 12 consecutive years. He stressed that innovation is the foundation of robotics development, cooperation its vitality, and sharing its future, urging participants to leverage the conference for brainstorming and collaborative efforts.
The opening session was chaired by Xu Xiaolan, Chairperson of the Chinese Institute of Electronics, who expressed gratitude for the support and reiterated the conference’s role in promoting technological and industrial integration, application efficiency, and international cooperation over the past decade.
Report Releases: Charting the Future of Embodied Intelligence and Robotics
During the conference, significant reports were unveiled, outlining the trajectory for embodied intelligence and humanoid robotics. Qiao Hong, Chairperson of the World Robot Cooperation Organization, released the “2025 Trends in Embodied Intelligent Robotics,” which delineates ten key dimensions for the future of embodied intelligence. These include embodied perception and cognition, decision-making, control, design, software-hardware consistency, large-scale robot factories, high-quality datasets, cluster and human-robot collaboration, open-source communities, and safety and ethics assessments. The report provides a comprehensive framework for advancing embodied robots, emphasizing the need for integrated systems that mimic human-like intelligence and interaction.
Concurrently, the Chinese Institute of Electronics video-released the “Top Ten Potential Application Scenes for Humanoid Robots in 2025,” identifying key areas such as industrial general operations, automotive manufacturing, 3C manufacturing, shipbuilding, petrochemicals, power generation, safety emergencies, commercial services, home services, and agricultural production. This report serves as a roadmap for technological breakthroughs and industrialization, injecting new动能 into various industries through the adoption of embodied intelligence in humanoid robots.
Additionally, the launch of Beijing Yizhuang’s “Robot World 2.0” was announced, introducing innovative consumer formats like the world’s first embodied intelligent robot 4S store and a robot-themed restaurant. This initiative aims to create a comprehensive ecosystem for robotics, integrating display, transaction, application, and experience, and leveraging the cluster of over 300 renowned robotics enterprises and innovation platforms in the region.
Expert Insights: Diverse Perspectives on Embodied Intelligence and Robotics
- Xu Xiaolan on Humanoid Robotics Development
Xu Xiaolan, Chairperson of the Chinese Institute of Electronics, delivered a keynote on humanoid robotics, describing them as high-level products of AI-robotics integration. She highlighted their global strategic importance in manufacturing upgrades and addressing aging societies, noting breakthroughs in hardware, AI decision-making, and supporting technologies like datasets and simulation. The “Top Ten Potential Application Scenes” report showcases the broad potential of humanoid robots across industrial, commercial, and special fields. She called for international collaboration to establish ethical foundations, sustainable technical architectures, safety certifications, and governance platforms for robotics. - Ni Guangnan on AI and Spatial Computing
Academician Ni Guangnan emphasized that “AI + spatial computing” is ushering in a new paradigm of 3D interaction, serving as a bridge between physical and digital worlds. He stressed that spatial computing is key to robot deployment, and under national “AI+” initiatives, enhancing robot intelligence through brain-eye-action coordination is crucial for enabling robots to see, understand, and act in the world. - Zhang Hong on Embodied Intelligence Fundamentals
Academician Zhang Hong defined embodied intelligence as the fusion of robotics (physical载体) and AI (intelligence), noting its historical separation due to technological immaturity. He emphasized that robots now require AI as a “brain,” and AI needs robots for practical application, giving rise to embodied intelligence. On talent development, he advocated for focusing on core abilities like learning and problem-solving rather than narrow specialties, to adapt to the evolving demands of embodied robot technologies. - Toshio Fukuda on Japan’s Embodied Intelligence Evolution
Academician Toshio Fukuda presented Japan’s approach to embodied intelligence through a “human-robot symbiosis”理念, aiming for distributed intelligent systems with environmental awareness and autonomous decision-making. He highlighted integrations of bionics and nanotech, such as implantable robots, and the development of “cognitive AI” beyond task-oriented machines. Applications focus on healthcare, disaster response, and research collaboration, with a “2050 Moon Plan” targeting human-robot collaborative achievements like Nobel Prizes. Challenges include software-hardware synergy, social ethics, and international cooperation, with demonstrated efficiencies in nanorobotic systems. - Zhang Jianwei on Education and Future Skills
Academician Zhang Jianwei predicted a shift from traditional education to AI Agent-led knowledge delivery, enabling personalized learning with global resources. He advised cultivating interdisciplinary skills, curiosity, and problem-solving abilities, stressing the need for education systems to transition from knowledge impartation to capability building for the era of embodied intelligence. - Kazuhiro Kosuge on Soft Material Robotics in Manufacturing
Academician Kazuhiro Kosuge discussed the application of AI and robotics in material handling, particularly soft material robots for apparel manufacturing. These robots safely and precisely handle deformable fabrics like silk, using sensors for real-time adjustments and enabling flexible production without major retooling. Their inherent safety allows human collaboration, reducing injury risks in workplaces. - Jiang Guangzhi on Beijing’s Robotics Initiatives
Jiang Guangzhi, Director of the Beijing Municipal Economy and Information Technology Bureau, released outcomes of the “Double Hundred Project,” focusing on a “1+4” product system with humanoid robots at the core, alongside collaborative, medical, special, and logistics robots. The project has supported 12 categories of 200 innovative products and 134 application scenarios across 11 fields, fostering a high-end product ecosystem and open innovation environments to accelerate robotics development. - Wang Xingxing on Embodied Intelligence Challenges
Wang Xingxing, CEO of Yushu Technology, addressed misconceptions about robot hardware limitations, stating that the real bottleneck is the immaturity of embodied intelligence. He critiqued current model architectures, such as VLA and RL training, and explored video generation models as a potential path for robot control, though noting challenges in computational efficiency and practicality that require validation. - He Xiaodong on JD.com’s Contributions
He Xiaodong, Senior Vice President of JD.com, highlighted how embodied intelligence empowers robots, particularly humanoid ones, to collaborate with humans in diverse scenarios. JD.com leverages its industrial scenes to refine technologies and offers platform services for consumer access and brand support. The “Smart Robot Industry Acceleration Plan” aims to boost sales, expand applications, and integrate embodied intelligence into daily life and industries. - Takayuki Ito on Global Robotics Trends
Takayuki Ito, President of the International Federation of Robotics, identified five key trends: AI-robotics integration opening new applications, the focus on embodied intelligent robots with room for development, sustainability-driven automation, expansion into sectors like construction and logistics, and collaborative robots addressing labor shortages. He noted that while humanoid robots attract investment, specialized solutions remain more feasible in the short term. - Jeff Burnstein on North American Market Insights
Jeff Burnstein, President of the Association for Advancing Automation, outlined North America’s shift from automotive to diverse sectors like warehousing and healthcare. He emphasized that practical, task-efficient robots are prioritized over specific forms, and highlighted the transformative potential of AI-robotics combos in addressing labor issues, with lessons from China’s innovation pace and the need for safety standards and public education. - Mohammed Alsolami on Saudi Arabia’s Vision
Mohammed Alsolami, CEO of a Saudi robotics firm, detailed the kingdom’s “Vision 2030” strategy, using mega-projects to deploy service and industrial robots, building an AI ethics framework, and focusing on localized applications like underwater exploration and agriculture. With a young population and ambitious projects like NEOM, Saudi Arabia aims to become a global robotics innovation hub. - Rev Lebaredian on Physical AI and General Robots
Rev Lebaredian, Vice President of NVIDIA, discussed the era of autonomous agents that perceive, understand, and act, marking a shift from information-centric AI to physical world applications. He emphasized the vast potential in connecting intelligent robots with trillion-dollar physical industries, defining the “physical AI era” where neural networks master physical laws for predictive actions and execution. - Mohammad Alshamsi on UAE’s Robotics Landscape
Mohammad Alshamsi, Secretary-General of the UAE Robotics and Automation Society, described the nation’s strategic drive under the “AI Strategy 2030” and “Dubai 200,000 Robots Plan,” targeting a 9% GDP contribution by 2032. Key areas include smart factories, medical robotics, space, defense, and logistics, with challenges in engineer shortages and certification, but strengths in projects like construction printing and space robotics. - Wang He on Synthetic Data for Humanoid Robots
Wang He, CTO of Galaxy General, addressed the data scarcity issue in humanoid robot commercialization, advocating for synthetic data generation through physics simulation and computer graphics. This approach involves creating interactive assets, generating action data via synthesis or reinforcement learning, and using Sim2Real transfer to deploy models in real-world settings, accelerating the adoption of embodied intelligence in robots.
Additional Highlights and Future Outlook
The conference also featured the World Robot Expo and competitions, demonstrating real-world applications of embodied intelligence in areas like healthcare, logistics, and education. Exhibitors showcased advanced embodied robots capable of complex tasks, underscoring the progress in making machines more adaptive and intelligent. The emphasis on “robot+” applications highlighted how embodied intelligence is driving efficiency and innovation across industries, from manufacturing to daily services.
Looking ahead, the consensus among participants is that embodied intelligence will continue to evolve, with humanoid robots playing a pivotal role in addressing global challenges such as labor shortages, aging populations, and sustainability. The integration of AI, simulation, and ethical frameworks will be critical for scaling embodied robot technologies and ensuring their beneficial impact on society.
| Indicator | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| China’s robotics industry revenue growth (H1 2025) | 27.8% year-on-year | Reflects overall industry expansion |
| Industrial robot production growth (H1 2025) | 35.6% year-on-year | Highlights manufacturing sector adoption |
| Service robot production growth (H1 2025) | 25.5% year-on-year | Indicates growth in non-industrial applications |
| Beijing’s humanoid robot industry share | Approximately one-third of national total | Demonstrates regional leadership in embodied robot development |
| Beijing’s robotics revenue growth (H1 2025) | Nearly 40% | Shows rapid expansion in key innovation hub |
| Number of robot specialized “little giant” enterprises in Beijing | 57 | Leads nationally, indicating a strong ecosystem for embodied intelligence |
| Surgical robot registration certificates in Beijing | 33 | Top in China, underscoring advancements in medical robotics |
In summary, the 2025 World Robot Conference served as a vital forum for exchanging ideas on embodied intelligence and its applications in robotics. The event highlighted significant strides in making robots smarter and more integrated into human environments, with embodied robots at the forefront of this transformation. As technologies advance, the focus on ethical considerations, international cooperation, and practical implementations will be essential for harnessing the full potential of embodied intelligence to benefit humanity.