The AI+ initiative is rapidly translating from an abstract technical variable into tangible value across China's economy. At the recently concluded 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), 4,486 exhibits were shown, 351 products made global debuts, and intended procurement reached about 20.36 billion yuan, up roughly 25% year-on-year.
As of June 2026, China had more than 6,600 AI companies, about 15% of the global total, forming a complete industrial system spanning foundational infrastructure, model frameworks and industry applications. Humanoid robot models exceeded 400, over half the global total, with humanoid and quadruped robots making up 80% of global sales.
Image: Humanoid robot at Science Square Tsukuba (CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)
