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Chongqing – Humanoid robots will achieve real breakthroughs once they can understand human behavior, navigate complex environments, and work safely alongside people, said Antonio Frisoli, president of the Italian National Competence Center on Robotics, in an interview with Bridging News.
He added that the global tech community is at a pivotal shift from language-based AI to embodied intelligence, a change set to transform manufacturing, healthcare, and cross-border innovation.
China has placed embodied intelligence at the forefront of its national strategy. Its 15th Five-Year Plan calls for accelerating "AI Plus" and deploying future industries, a direction that aligns closely with the rapid integration of robotics into real-world applications. Frisoli said this moment represents a rare opportunity for international cooperation and shared development.
Human–robot collaboration is both cognitive and physical
Frisoli said robotics is undergoing a fundamental shift: while earlier AI focused on text, the next generation must sense and respond to the physical world, integrating video, 3D perception, pressure sensors, and other inputs to function effectively in human-designed environments rather than controlled industrial settings.
As robotics advances, Frisoli believes the focus is shifting from mere automation to coexistence — machines working directly with people in shared spaces. "We are really interested in human-robot cooperation," he said. "Not working alone, as in classical industrial robots, but sharing an environment, sharing tasks, and performing cooperative work."
Frisoli divides human–robot collaboration into cognitive and physical components. On the cognitive side, robots must interpret intention, behavior, and even emotion. "The robot can understand your behavior, your intention, and even your mood," he said. In healthcare, for example, a rehabilitation robot that reads a patient's emotional state could adjust its assistance accordingly.
On the physical side, he pointed to wearable exoskeletons as a promising form of human–machine symbiosis. "The robot is worn by the human like a jacket and provides force when needed," he said. By detecting effort and movement, an exoskeleton can reduce fatigue and improve efficiency.
China and Italy seen as complementary in intelligent manufacturing
Frisoli said long-term opportunities lie in deeper China–Italy collaboration. Italy, Europe's second-largest manufacturing nation, brings industrial creativity and engineering expertise, while China offers unmatched production scale and a comprehensive supply chain capable of supporting rapid technological deployment.
"It is more convenient to have large production in cities like Chongqing in China," he said. "There is a super chain fully organized to produce, from microelectronics to cars or any machine."
Robotics spans mechanics, materials, electronics, control systems, and AI — all areas supported by China's mature industrial ecosystem. "All the supply chain is very advanced in China," he said. "It is a very good place to use robotic machines."
His institution, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, has maintained more than 20 years of cooperation with Chongqing University, beginning with the expansion needs of Italian motorbike maker Piaggio, which built its first Asian factory in the city. That partnership demonstrates how industrial demand can drive sustained academic and technological exchange.
Frisoli said the path forward will rely on deeper collaboration, noting that China can help Italy improve production capability, market access, and innovation. While Italy brings strengths in design and creative engineering, China offers scale, speed, and a readiness to adopt new technologies. "There could be a strong complementarity between the two countries," he said, adding that such synergy may ultimately shape the next wave of global intelligent manufacturing.