Humanoid robots show off their language and boxing skills in Hong Kong

HONG KONG– A humanoid robot the size of a primary school student had something to share in Hong Kong: it sang songs and spoke to people in Mandarin and English, answering every question they asked and delighting the audience around it.

More than 100 robots were showcased at two exhibitions that kicked off Monday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The X2 Ultra robot from the famous Chinese humanoid robot manufacturer AGIBOT Innovation (Shanghai) Technology Co. was one of them.

When asked about his hobbies, the robot’s list ranged from sports and dancing to studying technology and listening to music. Describing the people in front of him isn’t a challenge either: “a woman holding a phone, a woman holding a bag and a phone, a man holding a camera,” it reads at one point.

Calvin Chiu, operational director of Novautek Autonomous Driving, AGIBOT’s agent in Hong Kong, said the robot can bring emotional satisfaction to humans through conversations and serve as a teacher to the elderly and children. Different robots can also be programmed with different personalities.

“It would be like a friend,” Chiu said.

In China, technology has become an area of ​​competition with the United States, with national security implications. Beijing’s latest five-year plan pledges to “target the frontiers of science and technology.” Accelerating the development of products such as humanoid robots and their applications is part of the 2026-2030 plan of the world’s second largest economy.

Official data shows that China had more than 140 humanoid robot manufacturers and more than 330 models in 2025.

London-based technology research and advisory group Omdia recently ranked three of them – AGIBOT, Unitree Robotics and UBTech Robotics Corp. – as the only top-tier suppliers in its global assessment in terms of number of shipments. They all shipped more than 1,000 units of general-purpose embodied intelligent robots last year, with the top two companies shipping more than 5,000 units, according to the report.

In February, humanoid robots were among the highlights of China’s CCTV Spring Festival Gala, a television broadcast celebrating the Lunar New Year. A martial arts show performed by children and robots stole the show.

Some Chinese exhibitors showed off their advances at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center on Monday, showing off robotic capabilities ranging from talking with humans, punching and sand painting to performing backflips and capturing suspects with nets during security patrol demonstrations.

Robert Chan, head of global strategy at Shenzhen-based EngineAI, brought his PM01 robot to demonstrate its mobility, including performing a forward flip. His company plans to launch two mass production factories in China this year.

He said China enjoyed advantages in some areas, such as low-cost engineering. He also highlighted the model of sharing know-how between companies, unlike in the United States and Europe, where companies generally protect their own technology.

Chan predicted that the next stage of robotics would move toward robots featuring people-like bodies, with more emotional exchanges and facial expressions, or even appearing to be able to breathe. It’s about bridging the gap in how robots interact with humans, he said.

“The exchange of warmth and emotions with the human being. In addition, helping humans make the decision and helping them complete their task,” he said.

A company in the exhibition seems to be moving in this direction.

From a distance, three women appear to welcome guests at an exhibition stand in the corner. Up close, they reveal themselves to be humanoid robots that could be the future of customer service and museum tour guides.

Wang Zuhua, sales director at Shenzhen DX Intech Technology Co., said the company has sold more than 400 robots designed with feminine features and soft synthetic faces. Some already work in museums and government locations on the mainland, where they may guide guests to restrooms and offices or provide tours of the premises, he said.

Malaysian visitor Russel Lupang was amazed by their appearances and movements.

“It’s beautiful, but it’s not a real feeling,” he said.