At an intelligent industry exhibition held in Chongqing, Chinese robotics company Unitree demonstrated its humanoid robot in a boxing match. (Photo/Luo Huxin)

Chongqing - Six leading Chinese technology and emerging industry firms—Unitree, BrainCo, Manycore Tech, Deep Robotics, Game Science, and DeepSeek—recently gathered at the 2025 World Internet Conference to discuss the opportunities and risks that AI development poses to society, as well as the challenges faced by the embodied AI industry.

Since early 2025, these six companies have frequently been mentioned in China's tech circles for their advances in frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence and embodied intelligence.

For instance, DeepSeek's open-source AI large model has attracted global attention, Unitree's humanoid robots have earned widespread recognition for their performance, and Game Science's Black Myth: Wukong has become a global talking point.

Although often mentioned together and known to engage in industry exchanges, this conference marked the first time the six companies appeared together in a public discussion—collectively addressing the present and future of the tech industry.

According to a transcript from Chinese think tank Jazzyear, the discussion focused on how today's AI industry is advancing embodied intelligence. Victor Chen, Senior Researcher at DeepSeek, said the goal is to deepen AI's interaction with the real world, allowing models to learn and evolve autonomously—much like humans.

The core of embodied intelligence lies in integrating AI into physical systems capable of interacting with the real world. These systems include general-purpose robots, humanoid robots, and autonomous vehicles—with humanoid robots serving as one of the most representative applications.

China’s humanoid robot industry is currently booming. Wang Xinxin, CEO of Unitree, commented that humanoid robots and AI, including whole-machine systems, are expected to deliver even greater breakthroughs within the next one to two years. According to Morgan Stanley's Humanoid 100 report, China's humanoid robot market is projected to reach 12 billion yuan with shipments of 1.5 million units by 2030.

However, despite the immense market potential, China's robotics industry still faces significant technical hurdles. Wang pointed out that the primary challenge lies in constructing embodied AI models. Unlike traditional large language models, robotics faces difficulties in both model structure and data volume. He explained that currently, each manufacturer's robot differs in design and sensory data, and there is no unified global standard for tactile or visual sensor configurations.

Zhu Qiuguo, CEO of Deep Robotics, highlighted two major challenges in embodied intelligence. The first is mobility—robots must be able to move from one location to another without prior knowledge of their environment. The second is manipulation, particularly in developing humanoid hands. "The major challenge now," Zhu stated, "is how to enable a robot's hands to perform tasks in complex and uncertain environments."

Beyond technical challenges, the conference also explored the far-reaching societal impacts of AI and related industries. Chen, addressing these societal changes, expressed optimism about technology's potential but voiced a more pessimistic outlook regarding its social consequences.

He noted that while AI may help solve complex problems and create value in the short term, it could also lead to widespread unemployment in the long run. He emphasized that the essence of the AI revolution lies in creating intelligent machines—machines capable of replacing many human jobs and potentially surpassing human capabilities. While this may "liberate" humanity, it could also disrupt social order. Chen concluded, "The hallmark of this AI revolution is its success in replacing most human jobs."

In contrast, Feng Ji, CEO of Game Science, took a more optimistic stance. Seeing DeepSeek's success, he said, had made him more hopeful. He believes AI development will empower ordinary people rather than concentrate technological power in the hands of a few companies. Feng expressed confidence that AI will give opportunities to those who lack time or resources, enabling them to create and produce more—and better—content.