China’s New Robot Stunned Everyone at ZGC Forum 2025

Introduction

The Zhongguancun (ZGC) Forum 2025 (27 to 31 March, 2025) in Beijing has once again established itself as a premier international platform for global technology cooperation. This year’s event featured over 128 sessions covering cutting-edge technologies including advanced AI, quantum computing, biomedicine, 6G networks, and neural interfaces. However, the standout attraction was the extensive showcase of robotics, with approximately 100 robots from 15 companies demonstrating various capabilities from greeting visitors to making presentations. Humanoid robots served as intelligent assistants, highlighting the potential of AI integration into everyday life.

ZGC Forum 2025: The AI Robot Revolution

The Zhongguancun (ZGC) Forum 2025 in Beijing established itself as the premier international platform for global technology cooperation, with robotics taking center stage this year. Let me provide you with a comprehensive overview of the forum, focusing specifically on the AI robot innovations that captivated attendees.

Forum Overview

The ZGC Forum 2025 featured over 128 events covering cutting-edge technologies including:

• Advanced artificial intelligence models
• Quantum technologies
• Biomedicine
• 6G mobile networks
• Neural interface technologies

However, the robotics exhibition was arguably the most impressive component, showcasing approximately 100 robots from 15 companies performing various functions from greeting visitors to delivering presentations.

Technological Innovations

The robots at ZGC Forum 2025 showcased several breakthrough technologies:

1. Advanced Mobility Systems – From wheeled platforms to agile bipedal locomotion capable of athletic movements
2. Natural Interaction – Sophisticated facial expression systems and gesture recognition for more intuitive human-robot communication
3. Multimodal AI Models – Integration of vision, speech, and tactile sensing for comprehensive environmental understanding
4. Fine Motor Control – Precision manipulation capabilities enabling handling of delicate objects and complex tasks
5. Autonomous Decision Making – AI systems capable of adapting to changing environments and making independent decisions

Industry Applications

The robots demonstrated at ZGC Forum 2025 have potential applications across numerous sectors:

• Hospitality & Retail – Customer service, item delivery, inventory management
• Healthcare – Patient assistance, medication delivery, monitoring
• Education – Interactive teaching assistants, demonstrators
• Entertainment – Performance robots, interactive experiences
• Manufacturing & Logistics – Warehouse operations, packaging, sorting

China’s Position in the Global Robotics Landscape

The ZGC Forum 2025 highlighted China’s growing leadership in humanoid robotics development, with companies demonstrating technologies that rival or exceed those from other global technology hubs. The forum showcased China’s commitment to becoming a dominant force in the next generation of AI-powered robotics.

Video about the ZGC 2025:

Remarkable Robot Exhibits

Qing Bao by Shanghai Robot Engine

These female humanoid robots captivated audiences with their unique appearance and graceful movements. Designed to interact with people, provide information, and participate in events, they’re equipped with advanced sensors and AI systems enabling natural conversations and environmental responsiveness. They’re well-suited for customer service, education, and entertainment industries.

Calligraphy Robot

This ultra-realistic robot from Shandong province demonstrated precise calligraphy skills. Equipped with high-precision sensors, it accurately replicates human handwriting pressure and stroke patterns. The robot coordinates finger, wrist, and elbow movements while exhibiting subtle facial expressions like nodding and frowning, enhancing its lifelike presence.

Nia from Beijing Qingfei Technologies Co. Ltd – Bionic Interactive Robot

Nia welcomed forum attendees with a friendly demeanor and realistic facial expressions. With advanced facial motor skills, speech recognition abilities, and intelligent decision-making capabilities, she can smile, engage in conversations, and interact through expressions, gestures, and body language, including handshakes and thumbs-up signs.

Casbot 01 by Lingbao

Standing 1.79m tall and weighing 60kg, this humanoid assistant is designed for both household and industrial settings with a 4-hour operational capacity. Its key features include environmental adaptation and fine motor skills through advanced sensors and AI systems that recognize objects, identify people, and respond to specific tasks.

HOBBS by Nidex Robotics

This avatar robot features a high degree of freedom and interactive capabilities, enabling real-time remote control of facial expressions. HOBBS is China’s first bionic robot head with such advanced freedom of movement, featuring a multimodal large-scale model ensuring ultra-low latency in human-machine dialogue.

Noetix N2

Created by Noetix Robotics, this agile humanoid robot stands 1.2m tall, weighs 30kg, and can run, jump, and perform backflips. Its design centralizes heavier joints near the core for better balance and reduced inertia. With 18 degrees of freedom and two depth cameras, it offers precise movement and spatial awareness. Mass production is planned with a projected price of ¥39,000 (~$5,500).

Galbot G1 by Galbot Robotics

This humanoid robot mounted on a wheeled platform is designed for service, logistics, and retail environments. Standing 1.73m tall and weighing 85kg, G1 can operate autonomously for up to 10 hours. It features dual gripping mechanisms (mechanical manipulators and vacuum suction cups) to handle fragile items and can perform tasks like delivering orders and packaging products.

Unitree G1

The Unitree G1 has achieved a world first by successfully executing a sideways flip. With 23 degrees of mobility, this robot has set a new benchmark with its flawless side flip from a stationary position. It features a three-dimensional depth sensing camera and microphones with noise reduction to process spoken commands.

International Robotics

Sense Robot Chess Machine

This adaptive AI chess machine adjusts to player skill levels, analyzing moves and offering real-time tips. It supports practice, tournament, and educational modes while also playing checkers and backgammon, allowing remote matches with users worldwide.

Neo Gamma by 1X Technologies

Powered by NVIDIA’s Isaac Groot N1 AI processor, this Norwegian-engineered humanoid robot assists with household duties. It features a custom-built control system enabling lifelike human movement, including synchronized arm gestures. Neo Gamma can grasp different objects through vision-based manipulation, rapidly acquire new skills, and perform tasks like arranging dishes and cleaning surfaces.

Atlas by Boston Dynamics

The revised Atlas model from the United States impresses with seamless motions and diverse abilities including sprinting, crawling, executing flips, break dancing, and performing cartwheels. Acquired through reinforcement learning from human movement data, its abilities surpass human constraints. Boston Dynamics calls it “the most nimble humanoid robot ever created.”

Conclusion

The 2025 ZGC Forum demonstrated China’s significant advancement in humanoid robotics, with multiple companies showcasing robots capable of increasingly complex and lifelike interactions. From the artistic Ching Bao robots to the athletic Noetix N2 and the service-oriented Galbot G1, these innovations highlight China’s competitive position in the global robotics industry alongside established players like Boston Dynamics. The exhibition emphasized the rapid integration of AI and advanced sensing technologies into humanoid forms that can perform diverse tasks from customer service to household assistance.

Key Takeaways

• China is showcasing numerous advanced humanoid robots with increasingly lifelike movements and interactions
• These robots demonstrate applications in service, entertainment, retail, and household environments
• Chinese robotics companies are achieving technical milestones like the Unitree G1’s sideways flip
• Pricing (e.g., Noetix N2 at ~$5,500) suggests commercial viability is approaching
• Both Chinese and international robotics development emphasizes human-like movement, expression, and task performance

Related References

• Zhongguancun Forum 2025
• Shanghai QingBao Robot Engine – QingBao robots
• Noetix Robotics – N2 humanoid robot
• Galbot Robotics – G1 service robot
• Boston Dynamics – Atlas humanoid robot
• 1X Technologies – Neo Gamma household assistant
• LingBao- Casbot01 humanoid assistant
• Unitree – G1 acrobatic robot

Future Outlook

Based on the technologies displayed at ZGC Forum 2025, we can anticipate:

• Increasing integration of robots in everyday environments
• Further advances in natural human-robot interaction
• More affordable and accessible consumer robotics
• Expanded industrial applications reducing human workload
• Continued Chinese investment and innovation in the sector

The ZGC Forum 2025 demonstrated that the future of AI robotics is arriving faster than many anticipated, with practical applications already becoming commercially viable across multiple industries.