From technological show to real breakthrough: Decoding the core values of WAIC 2025
In the exhibition hall of WAIC 2025 in Shanghai, robots are engaging in activities such as fighting, mixing drinks, writing calligraphy, and dancing Breaking hip - hop. They can also have real - time bilingual interactions with the audience, which has drawn exclamations.
However, what is being displayed here is not just the "talents" of AI, but also the multiple possibilities of technology implementation—AI is moving from the laboratory to every corner of industry and life.
Whether it is the breakthrough in the inference technology of large models or the development of the robots' own intelligence, they all point in the same direction: Artificial intelligence is shifting from "what it can do" to "what it can change."
Image source: Official website of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference
This might be the key to the WAIC: It is not just a grand technology event, but also a mirror of technology, reflecting the in - depth features of technological innovation and social needs.
When we applaud the robots' "performances" in front of the exhibition booths, what we need to pay more attention to is how these technologies will truly enter our lives and become the driving force for progress.
Technological Breakthrough: The Leap from "Deduction" to "Understanding"
From robots acting as waiters to those that can understand human language and gestures, these "AI actors" have had many shining moments at WAIC.
For example, Fourier has brought the upcoming humanoid robot GR - 3, which is Fourier's first care - giving robot, Care - bot. Its main purpose is to interact and accompany patients or the elderly.
It can respond to human emotional needs and observe and analyze the patients' needs in daily life and nursing in real - time through facial expressions, language, and actions.
This is also a new exploration for robots from the practical type to the companion type. It is no longer limited to medical monitoring but provides considerate care. Its overall appearance is made of soft skin - like covering materials, which is different from the mechanical feeling of other machines and brings kindness and warmth to people.
GR - 3 has full - sense interaction and is equipped with a multi - modal perception system. By using the model of Affective Computing, it converts emotional labels into behavioral patterns.
This technology monitors the emotional states of users and patients in real - time through voice recognition and action analysis. It has the ability to accurately analyze language interactions, meeting the requirements for timely interaction with people.
However, Baidu's NOVA digital human technology has also staged an "impromptu performance," demonstrating three disruptive changes: It can clone a "you" in just 10 minutes; it breaks the boundaries of content creation; and it has a legion of intelligent agents collaborating.
Experts say: "The key to deep intelligence lies in understanding the 'implied meaning.' When AI can judge a sense of resistance from your arm - crossing gesture, it is approaching human social cognition."
With the continuous development of technology, the functions of robots have been evolving from "mechanical response" to "active performance."
In the past, AI could only handle single - input voice and text and recognize pre - prepared emotions. However, the robots exhibited this year can not only analyze voice pauses, facial muscle changes, and gesture amplitudes synchronously but also generate complex emotions such as "forced smiles." They can analyze people's emotions in a more diverse way and give responses.
What we need is not just the display of various advanced capabilities and scenarios, but a gradual move towards serving people's daily lives and understanding people's various behaviors.
This in - depth understanding and natural interaction make AI no longer a cold tool but a "partner" that truly integrates into life, releasing warm value in fields such as healthcare, education, and elderly care.
Industrial Empowerment: The Commercial Potential Behind AI's "Acting Skills"
At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, AI is no longer just advanced technology in the laboratory. It can truly enter real - world scenarios such as entertainment, education, and healthcare. Through "anthropomorphic" interactions, it can improve user experience, reduce costs, and even create new business models, eliminating the sense of distance from people.
AI + Entertainment: Virtual Characters and Immersive Experience
In the film and television industry segment, AI - driven virtual digital humans have changed the way of content production.
For example, Magic Leap Technology, an exhibitor at WAIC, has demonstrated 3D digital humans based on generative AI. They can adjust their expressions and actions in real - time according to instructions. Without the need for shooting, venues, or professional teams, complete and compliant videos can be produced, significantly reducing video production costs.
Magic Leap Technology has gathered thousands of high - quality 3D AI digital human characters, covering various styles such as hyper - realistic 3D digital humans, cartoons, and anime.
Meanwhile, it also has a wide range of shooting techniques, realistic lighting effects, and film - grade 3D scenes, increasing the efficiency of content production for film and television workers in short dramas, advertisements, etc. several times.
Magic Leap's technology is also deeply applied in the political and legal fields, such as intelligent service windows and immersive legal education. By using such advanced technology, it can not only serve the film and television industry but also contribute to the construction and development of the legal system.
AI + Education: Customized Guidance and Emotional Interaction
In the education field, educational AI has gradually been upgraded from a "teaching tool" to a "learning partner."
For example, the "from learning machine to Jiuzhang large - model" displayed by Xueersi at WAIC is not only an "AI tutor" with a complete intelligent learning system but also a "virtual co - teacher" that can break down problems and explain ideas using the Jiuzhang large - model.
Moreover, if it detects that a student is distracted, the AI will switch to a more vivid way of explanation and even insert humorous interactions to regain the student's attention.
The AI - empowered all - subject intelligent education platform is no longer a rigid knowledge output tool. It is gradually becoming "anthropomorphic," bringing continuous innovation to education and new vitality. The learning process is no longer cold but more human - centered.
AI + Healthcare: Physical Healing and Emotional Companionship
In the healthcare field, AI has brought new impetus to the medical cause. More than 30 advanced technological innovation achievements have been presented, including "AI - driven optimization solutions for drug R & D cycles, the global medical imaging AI analysis cloud platform, etc.
In all aspects such as precision medicine, health management, and innovative therapies, AI technology is setting off an all - around transformation wave in the healthcare field.
Alibaba's DAMO Academy has launched the "Plain - scan CT + AI" system, which enables intelligent screening of multiple diseases; Lanxiang Digital Technology uses digital twin technology to continuously improve the diagnosis and treatment level of critical and severe diseases; Ant Group's "AI Health Butler" integrates the resources of 3,600 hospitals and can provide full - process medical services for patients.
These breakthroughs are accelerating the precise, personalized, and intelligent upgrading of healthcare services, fully demonstrating the transformative impact of AI technology on the entire healthcare process.
Warm - hearted AI: Exploring Future Development Modes
According to data, the market for affective computing and anthropomorphic interaction is growing at an average annual rate of 35%, and it is expected to exceed $50 billion in scale by 2026.
However, the healthcare, education, and customer service fields show the strongest growth momentum. The affective interaction AI market has strong growth potential and will assist in all aspects of people's lives in the future.
From entertainment to healthcare, from education to elderly care, the "anthropomorphic AI" displayed at WAIC is gradually breaking the boundary between machines and humans. For us, it is not only an efficiency tool but also an emotional partner, making technology truly "warm - hearted."
In the future, with the advancement of technologies such as multi - modal perception and affective computing, AI will be more deeply integrated into our lives and become the "intelligent collaborator" of human society.
The "Initiative on AI - enabled Sustainable Development" released at the conference clearly states that AI needs to contribute to global issues such as green transformation, medical inclusion, and educational equity.
The "Mazu" AI early - warning system developed by the China Meteorological Administration has been implemented in Djibouti and Mongolia. By using advanced intelligent technology, it enhances the disaster - prevention capabilities of the two countries and solves practical problems. Huawei's AI light - vision linkage platform has successfully prevented railway safety accidents in South Africa, demonstrating the empowerment of technology in public safety.
This kind of AI development is truly "intelligent service for the people." It also indicates that the future of AI is not only an efficiency tool but also the driving force for promoting social equity and warming the world.
The artificial intelligence stage of WAIC 2025 has witnessed the progress of AI from "technology display" to "value creation"—we have found that true intelligence lies not only in imitating human behavior but also in understanding the warmth of the world.
Image source: Official website of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference
This grand event reveals not only the continuous progress of science and technology but also the resonance between technology and humanity: When AI moves from the laboratory to hospitals, classrooms, and millions of families, it is no longer just a "performer" under the spotlight but a true collaborator of human civilization.
There is no end to the evolution of technology, but every breakthrough tells us that the most practical "progress" is always the daily care for our lives.
References:
1. Wuxiang Scientific Research AI Laboratory - Enjoy AI in Healthcare at WAIC 2025: The Breakthrough of AI Technology and the Global Health Industry
2. Frontier Technology Observation - [AI] Fourier's GR - 3 Humanoid Robot Makes Its Debut, Focusing on "Emotional Companionship"
3. 36Kr - Whether You Come to the 32 - degree Shanghai to Visit WAIC or Not, You Need This Exhibition - Visiting Guide
4. "2024 Global AI Industry Development Report"
This article is from the WeChat official account "Rixi Vision." Author: Xian Xian, Editor: Xian Xian. Republished by 36Kr with permission.