Glimpse into robotic future of home appliances offered at expo in Shanghai

Humanoid robots and artificial intelligence-powered home appliances took center stage at this weekend's Appliance and Electronics World Expo (AWE) in Shanghai, highlighting the potential of AI in consumer products and sparking conversations about the future of household tasks.

Among the major attractions was the Unitree G1, a humanoid robot standing nearly 1.3 meters tall and weighing 35 kilograms. The robot captured significant attention, leading visitors to imagine a future where humanoid robots play a central role in daily life.

"For example, [humanoid robots could] assist with simple outdoor tasks, like picking up takeout or receiving a package. Indoors, it could help with sweeping and mopping," said one audience member, said one audience member, sharing his vision for the future of household robots.

However, experts cautioned that humanoid robots remain focused on "motion performance," with most applications still in research and development. Widespread deployment for household chores is still years away.

"Battery life is a crucial factor, and the most important consideration is price—achieving cost advantages through volume. It may take several years to transition from industrial to domestic environments before robots can effectively assist with tasks like cleaning, folding clothes, and even elderly care," said Zheng Shaojue, head of Consumer Goods Channel Sales at Unitree Robotics.

While humanoid robots are in the early stages of development, AI is rapidly making its way into consumer products. From large appliances like air conditioners to small devices such as smartphones, AI is becoming increasingly integrated into everyday products.

At Huawei's booth, visitors used voice commands to adjust TV settings, while a new "AI movie search" feature allowed users to discover films with minimal clues like plot, characters, or even popular references.

This shift towards AI is driving greater market opportunities, with faster product development and increased production capabilities in the smart home sector.

China's smart home market is projected to reach 952.3 billion yuan (over 131 billion U.S. dollars) this year, with AI applications expected to account for more than 50 percent of the market.

The three-day AWE event wrapped up on Sunday, leaving many eager to see how rapidly smart home products will continue to evolve.

Glimpse into robotic future of home appliances offered at expo in Shanghai

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Wednesday in Beijing with Nauruan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea, who came to China for the opening ceremony of the Nauru Embassy in China.

Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that since the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Nauru, both sides have fostered mutual understanding and support, while the pragmatic cooperation has developed comprehensively, bringing tangible benefits to the people of Nauru.

China appreciates Nauru's firm adherence to the one-China policy and believes that Nauru will continue to support China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, thus consolidating the political foundation of bilateral relations, Wang said.

China is willing to deepen cooperation with Nauru in various fields including agriculture and fisheries, sports, marine development, climate change response, and capacity building, Wang said, adding that China congratulates Nauru on the upcoming official opening of its embassy in China and is willing to provide conveniences and assistance for the embassy's operation.

Aingimea, for his part, said that Nauru sincerely thanks China for the valuable assistance provided in infrastructure construction and socio-economic development, which helps improve people's livelihood and sustainable development of Nauru.

Nauru will not waver in its stance of adhering to the one-China principle and looks forward to expanding bilateral cooperation in various fields and pushing bilateral relations to a new level, Aingimea added.

Chinese FM meets Nauruan counterpart