Must - Have Exhibition Guide for the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Regardless of 32°C Visit

If you can't come to WAIC because it's too hot, you're too lazy, or you're too busy; or if you've come to the exhibition hall but don't know where to start, in this guide, we've marked the key points for you.

Text by | Qiu Xiaofen, Deng Yongyi

Edited by | Su Jianxun

Graphics by | Wang Xinyi

On July 26th, the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC 2025) opened at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center. This is undoubtedly the most important annual event in China's AI field.

Even though it rained heavily that day, the maximum temperature reached 32 degrees Celsius, and the sticky wind in Shanghai was uncomfortable, it still couldn't dampen the enthusiasm for WAIC.

In terms of exhibition space, WAIC is divided into the "World Expo Center" (for forums) and the "World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center" (for exhibitions). According to Intelligence Emergence, this year's exhibition tickets were sold out in advance for the first time. Two days before the opening, on July 24th, the official announced that all tickets had been sold out.

In many tech - circle group chats, "seeking tickets" became the recent buzzword. On Xianyu, a single - day ticket for WAIC, originally priced at 168 yuan, was resold for 650 yuan, and the three - day pass, originally priced at 498 yuan, was even asking for more than 2000 yuan.

This year, all the "rising stars" you can imagine have come... In the AI circle, Zhipu from the north and Jieyue from the south are here, along with MiniMax and Kimi, which have just launched new products;

In the robotics circle, Zhiyuan and Unitree, which are on the verge of going public, have also arrived, along with a number of new robotics companies that have just raised funds and are participating in WAIC for the first time. Not to mention giants like Alibaba, Tencent, Huawei, and JD.

Compared with who came, "who didn't come" is actually more worthy of attention. Intelligence Emergence searched through the exhibitor list but couldn't find Baichuan Intelligence of Wang Xiaochuan and Zero One Everything of Li Kaifu among the "Six Little Tigers" in the AI field.

(Extended reading: At least two of the "Six Little Tigers" are going to abandon large - scale models)

According to the organizers, the scale of this year's conference has reached a record high: four exhibition halls are open, and the exhibition area has exceeded 70,000 square meters for the first time; more than 800 exhibitors have participated, displaying more than 40 large - scale models and more than 90 intelligent robots.

Whether you can't come to WAIC because it's too hot, you're too lazy, or you're too busy; or you come to the exhibition hall but don't know where to start, this exhibition - visiting guide provided by Intelligence Emergence may not cover all the information, but it will definitely help you identify the key points.

Here is a collection of highlights from the 2025 WAIC exhibition areas selected by the Intelligence Emergence editorial department. Enjoy!

Intelligent Terminal Exhibition Area (Hall H3 on the second floor)

Unitree: Whoa, robots are fighting each other!

This year, Unitree's robot combat competition is undoubtedly the most popular in the intelligent terminal exhibition area, with the booth surrounded by three - layer - deep crowds.

Two humanoid robots wearing boxing gloves and protective gear are "fighting" each other, neither giving in. Although they occasionally miss, overall they are very aggressive, throwing left and right hooks.

Robot combat competition

One of the robots was knocked down by a flying kick. It's okay. With a sideways somersault, it staggered to continue the fight...

Robot combat competition

The audience below couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, when robots fight, it really packs a punch!"

Zhiyuan Robotics: The most impressive robot display, bar none

At this WAIC, Zhiyuan Robotics' booth is the largest among all robot manufacturers, covering an area of 300 square meters.

Its robots are not only on its own booth but also in some corners of the venue, where you can see them writing calligraphy, playing the drums, and cheering with raised arms...

Zhiyuan Robotics

At the Zhiyuan Robotics booth, the Elf G1 acts like a staff member, delivering items and stamping commemorative seals for the audience. In the human - robot curling interactive game at the booth, the Elf G1 can also flexibly adjust its strategy according to the position of the curling stones.

Curling interactive game

On the other side, the Expedition A2 - W keeps working hard on unpacking and moving stacks. Interestingly, even when the boxes are slightly tilted, this robot can automatically calibrate its position.

This time, Zhiyuan Robotics also exhibited an OmniHand dexterous hand. At the scene, this dexterous hand can play the piano, do gesture dances, and play rock - paper - scissors with people. It's really a magical hand.

To learn more about Zhiyuan Robotics, you can refer to our previous report: Dissecting "Zhiyuan Robotics": A "Huawei - affiliated" operator is starting a business in the way of running a large company

Keenon Robotics: Robot waiter, a glass of whiskey, please

Tired of visiting the exhibition? Have a summer iced drink (specially made by a robot).

Keenon has designed the exhibition area into a bar, a diner, and a theater, turning its robots into waiters. As you stroll around, you can order Keenon's bipedal service robot XMAN - F1 to make popcorn, iced drinks, etc. for you.

By the way, remember to tell it whether you want ice or not.

Robot making drinks

Robot making popcorn

Robot making drinks

In the bar scenario, Keenon's robot sommelier XMAN - R1 can also recognize the order content and showcase its "mixing" skills for the audience, such as identifying wine bottles, precisely pouring ice cubes, pouring wine, and handing over items with both hands.

In the theater scenario, the Keenon robot XMAN - F1 can even bravely take the stage and start speaking, independently completing PPT presentations and product demonstrations. It focuses on self - promotion, demonstrating its intelligent presentation ability that integrates multi - modal interaction, large - language models, and autonomous decision - making systems.

Galaxy Universal: Robots as convenience store clerks, and robot dogs for automatic garbage collection

At Galaxy Universal's booth, humanoid robots with wheeled chassis act as clerks, on duty 24/7 in supermarkets and convenience stores.

Robot clerk

After the audience selects products on the iPad, the robot Galbot will pick up and deliver corresponding products such as bread, marinated eggs, plastic bottles, and transparent jelly cups from the densely - stocked shelves.

There are also robot dogs for automatic garbage collection.

Robot dog collecting garbage

When the audience randomly throws garbage such as water bottles in the exhibition area, Galaxy Universal's robot dogs can independently and accurately identify the target objects and quickly pick them up.

To learn more about Galaxy Universal, you can refer to our previous report: Exclusive interview with Wang He of Galaxy Universal: Real "working" robots are not afraid of price wars

Qianxun Intelligence: Making an S - shaped turn to rush to deliver drinks for you

In Qianxun Intelligence's order - taking interactive area, the audience only needs to scan the code to place an order, and the robot Moz1 will help you identify various drinks, accurately locate them, and firmly grasp and deliver them to your hands. Doesn't the drink delivered by the robot taste sweeter?

Robot picking up drinks

To deliver the drinks, Moz1 really goes all out - doing the moonwalk, making S - shaped turns, and taking on active balance challenges...

S - shaped turn

Active balance challenge

Unlike other manufacturers that only use robots for work, at Qianxun Intelligence's booth, the robots can also have some fun. On - site, the robot Moz1 plays with a handheld maze ball and builds blocks for the audience.

Playing with a handheld maze ball

Building blocks

Moreover, here, the audience can personally experience remote operation. After experiencing it, Intelligence Emergence believes that there is almost no delay, and the robot can move synchronously with the operator.

Audience experiencing remote operation

To learn more about Qianxun Intelligence, you can refer to our previous report: Qianxun Intelligence's Han Fengtao: By the end of 2025, investors will be more optimistic about embodied intelligence

Star Era: A 1.7 - meter - tall robot dancing Breaking

The most prominent feature of the robots at Star Era's booth is that they can perform high - intensity, large - scale movements as well as delicate operations.

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