Batteries are stacked, headlights are installed and cables are threaded in an assembly line demonstration at the World AI Conference 2026 in Shanghai, which serves to show how robotic intelligence is transforming mechanical automation.
In this replica factory line displayed in the exhibition hall by Shanghai TARS Robotics Co., Ltd., robots no longer appear merely as tools, but as "colleagues" capable of detecting their surroundings and adapting to changes independently.
These innovations reflect a deeper transition, as embodied intelligence begins to move from research laboratories to widespread application in the industrial sector.
This trend is reflected in the latest official data. According to China's State Taxation Administration ( STA), revenue in the tangible intelligence sector grew 22.4 percent year-on-year (yoy) from January to May 2026, after recording a 13.9 percent increase for the entire year of 2025. Industrial purchases of tangible intelligence-based robots more than tripled during the same period.
Shanghai has set a target of operating 100,000 humanoid robots in factories by the end of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), with the adoption rate of AI agents among large-scale industrial enterprises expected to exceed 80 percent.
At the national level, tangible intelligence is now positioned as a strategic pillar for future industries.
The proposed 15th Five-Year Plan for 2025 for the first time included tangible intelligence into the country's medium- and long-term industrial roadmap, followed by an outline for 2026 that established it as a new driver of growth.
The government's work report for two consecutive years also mandates concrete steps for its development.
According to a document released by China's State Council, the adoption rate of next-generation intelligent terminals and AI agents is targeted to exceed 70 percent by 2027 and 90 percent by 2030, making the AI-driven economy a major contributor to national growth.
As industrial adoption accelerates, companies are also exploring how tangible intelligence can be leveraged to serve households and consumers. At WAIC 2026, Shanghai-based robot manufacturer Fourier introduced an immersive living space titled "A Day with the Robot Butler."
The booth was designed to resemble a living room, complete with a dining table, sofa, and coffee table. A humanoid robot moved with steady steps, fetching a bottle of water and handing it to a visitor standing in front of it. The entire interaction took place autonomously, without any remote control or buttons.
The robot on display, Fourier's GR-3, is powered by a semantic task execution center that integrates a large language model ( LLM ), three-dimensional (3D) space mapping, navigation planning, and control execution into a single, unified workflow.
The robot is able to memorize room layouts, identify object locations, understand functional areas, and act on natural language commands.
When a user says, "I'm thirsty," GR-3 will interpret that intent, locate food and beverage outlets using its spatial semantic map, and then autonomously determine the most efficient route for picking up and delivering drinks. This process bridges the gap between AI cognition and physical action, eliminating the need for explicit, step-by-step instructions.
The system operates using Fourier's FOCUS centralized control platform, which coordinates path planning and task allocation in real time . When two robots pass each other, the system assigns priority based on mission urgency, enabling dynamic collision avoidance and seamless coordination.
Tangible intelligence is also starting to reach consumers beyond the home. In a shopping mall on West Nanjing Road in Shanghai 's Jing'an District, a boxing ring was set up in the hallway outside the Unitree Robotics experience store, drawing a crowd to watch two humanoid robots wearing pink and red helmets battle it out. Many onlookers took out their phones to capture the thrilling action.
Opened on May 31, the store is the first of its kind in Asia. It's tucked away among women's clothing boutiques in a corner of the second floor of Jiuguang Department Store, yet still stands out.
Despite its small size, the shop is bustling from morning to night, with many visitors coming from overseas. Families, especially children, also come to watch the robot dog climb slopes, jump, and spin, while the humanoid robot mimics gestures and performs fluid movements.
