The rapid evolution of China’s artificial intelligence and robotics sectors is fueling a surge in startups, as passionate entrepreneurs and researchers bet big on the industry’s future and push more embodied AI ideas beyond the lab and into real-world applications across industrial, commercial, and daily life.
“What should the relationship between humans and robots look like? Should a robot just be a tool or an alternative that boosts efficiency? We believe it should truly become a part of our daily lives,” said Chen Guoguo, a public relations specialist at Cyan.
This endeavor has led the Shanghai-based humanoid robot startup, founded in 2024, to create its latest product, Amoo, and exhibit it at the BEYOND Expo 2026 in the Macao Special Administrative Region.
Unlike typical metallic, futuristic humanoid robots, the 80-centimeter-tall Amoo has a soft, fuzzy exterior and the adorable look of a friendly little monster, and is embedded with large language model (LLM). It is designed to be an intelligent companion that can talk and interact with users and showcase more than 200 different facial expressions.
Chen said the product will soon be available for pre-order and is expected to become more responsive to users’ movements as the company continues to refine the AI model, introducing more features into real-world use.
He also expressed optimism about the industry’s future development. “Once robots become sufficiently lifelike and their social interaction capabilities mature, people will grow more accepting of them.”
The sentiment was echoed by many entrepreneurs and startups at the BEYOND Expo, which opened on Wednesday. Themed “AI: Digital to Physical”, the tech expo brought together about 800 companies from around the world — including industry heavyweights, startups, and even one-person companies — to showcase their latest achievements and look for business and investment opportunities.
The four-day exhibition has attracted thousands of participants, ranging from industry leaders, investors, and retail buyers, to senior corporate executives and government officials.
“Robots can standardize many operations, reducing the need for humans to perform dangerous or repetitive tasks. So I believe this industry definitely has a bright future … I think there is tremendous room for growth,” said Frankie Lam, senior account manager at Hong Kong SAR-based Novautek Autonomous Driving Limited, a subsidiary of investment firm Novautek Technologies Group.
The company, which focuses on AI Robot-as-a-Service — a business model that allows clients to rent autonomous robots — has grown rapidly over the past two years. It now provides a variety of robots tailored for different industrial scenarios, including security patrol, environmental cleaning, warehousing, and delivery.
Having opened a Shenzhen office just last year, Lam said the company plans to further expand its footprint into the Chinese mainland, as well as overseas markets like the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
“There are still many unknown fields waiting to be explored … to me, this is very interesting. AI is an area with no limits,” said Zeng Zichen, an AI product designer.
Her company, Suzhou Artificial Intelligence Co Ltd, was also among those seeking market exposure at the tech event. The firm established in 2024 provides AI agents that support private deployment and allow users to build tools tailored to their needs, along with an LLM service platform.
Zeng said the company’s products can be applied in a wide range of commercial scenarios. “We have incubated many specialized agents. For example, with a programming agent, you can input a product requirements document or just a few sentences, and it can generate a game,” she said.
Zeng also added that this was the first time the company had taken part in an exhibition. “We’re trying to learn how our counterparts promote their products, and we also hope to connect with overseas companies and leading enterprises at home and abroad.”
