Digital News

　　The 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC 2025), held in Shanghai from July 26 to 28, once again captured global attention.

　　The phrase “once again” is used because in recent years, China’s strong commitment to and investment in AI have resulted in many remarkable achievements that impress the global community. More and more people in China are not only engaging with AI but are also becoming deeply immersed in an AI-powered society. They remain eager and optimistic about new advancements in AI. The wide variety of AI applications showcased at the conference underscored the industry’s accelerated development, with AI playing an increasingly prominent role in everyday life. The high demand for tickets—almost impossible to obtain—perfectly reflects the public’s keen interest in this technological feast.

　　A major highlight of this conference was the almost ubiquitous presence of embodied intelligence, which served as a key attraction drawing widespread public interest in cutting-edge technology. Embodied intelligence, as the term implies, is AI that possesses a physical “body,” with its machine brain aiding users in making decisions. Simply put, various animal-like machines such as robots, robot dogs, unmanned vehicles, and robotic arms are all examples of embodied intelligence. While only 18 robotics companies participated in the previous edition, WAIC 2025 attracted over 80 companies in this field.

　　Embodied intelligence is drawing significant interest because many people have now become accustomed to using various large AI models to assist with their work, enjoying great convenience as a result. The main difference is that large models currently “live” inside web pages or mobile Apps, but people want to see more AI embodied in physical forms in daily life, serving a wider range of purposes. Many science fiction films depict embodied intelligence as an integral part of future societies, highlighting the widespread anticipation for this technology. In addition to the common humanoid robots that serve society, embodied intelligence also includes machine brains capable of quickly and efficiently handling various tasks. Artistic creation mirrors real life, and in today’s world, the demand for embodied intelligence has grown particularly strong.

　　A standout example is driver assistance, showcasing the deep integration of embodied intelligence in the automotive industry. The application of driver assistance technology in domestic new energy vehicles is continuously advancing. Now, people can rely on driver assistance systems to perform functions like automatic parking, which are technological breakthroughs achieved in recent years. With these functions now realized, there is growing anticipation for AI applications to advance further and deliver higher-level driver assistance technologies as soon as possible.

　　Embodied intelligence stood out as a key highlight at this conference, aligning with the broader trend of technological progress. Rather than focusing on flashy demonstrations, the robots at this conference have become noticeably more practical—capable of tasks such as picking items in supermarkets, assisting with rehabilitation, and making coffee for visitors. Even an unexpected interruption, such as someone removing the coffee capsule, didn’t throw the robot off. It responded with remarkable autonomy, retrieved the capsule, and restarted the brewing process.

　　As robots evolve from simply executing pre-set commands to showing real autonomy in thinking and decision-making, embodied intelligence is likely to become increasingly integrated into daily life, unlocking new possibilities for the future of human society.