From robot dogs to helpers, China puts robotics ambitions on display at world conference

China kicked off the 2026 World Robot Conference to showcase its expanding robotics industry as it moves technology into real-world applications. The conference featured companies like Unitree and UBTECH demonstrating models that perform tasks such as boxing, dancing, and folding clothes. However, the event coincided with reports of a U.S. ban on foreign-made humanoid robots targeting national security risks.