Chinese AI applications take center stage at CES in Las Vegas

Chinese tech companies and startups are making a strong showing this year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the world's premier technology event, showcasing a range of advanced products and prototypes powered by built-in artificial intelligence (AI).

Outside the Las Vegas Convention Center, CES-related events happened everywhere, like Global Connect, organized by iMpact, a company that helps Chinese companies expand overseas.

"I think one thing that China is doing very well right now is connecting AI to hardware. So AI to robotics, you can see around here, you see the robot coffee makers, robot cocktail makers, robots are everywhere doing real things, robot vacuums and pool cleaners. So, really using AI to do physical work in the real world," said Chris Pereira, founder and CEO of iMpact.

At CES 2026, Ascentiz, a robotics company founded by Chinese mountaineer Feng Sha, made its first global commercial appearance with a modular exoskeleton system positioned for everyday mobility, outdoor activity, and occupational endurance rather than niche or extreme use cases.

"So actually, this exoskeleton space is booming in China right now. A lot of places are using the exoskeletons to help people to walk. And it's like 200 to 300 RMB per time to rent. And you can use it the whole day to just climb mountains," said Feng Sha, co-founder of Ascentiz.

It's a concept Feng wants to bring to the U.S., but, with their brand new modular belt that's open source, so that U.S. developers can contribute their ideas to improve the product too.

"China has one of the world's most capable, manufacturing and supply chain ecosystem in the world. And in the U.S., people, they have the most advanced software, open source development ecosystem as well. And that's why we're building this exoskeleton hardware with open platform design that we can combine them through innovation, both from China and the U.S.," said Feng.

At the world's premier technology event, AI is becoming a part of just about everything like this -- an AI fridge from Chinese consumer electronics provider Changhong.

"This fridge has a gentle free zone installation. Your fresh meat can stay frozen and fresh 33 days," said Nadia Fokova, spokesperson for Changhong.

At another popular off-site event called Pepcom, Chinese companies not only fill the floor, but provide the technology that can clean the floors with ease.

A new smart robot brand based in the Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen, xLean, introduced a dual-form floor-washing robot designed to function as both an autonomous robot vacuum and a handheld cordless floor washer. The company describes it as the world's first transformable model of its kind.

Co-founder Terrence Liu said their AI-driven floor washer aims to hit the global market this summer.

"My dream is always to create some device or robots or some hardware to make life better," said Liu.

The annual show opened Tuesday, attracting thousands of exhibitors from more than 155 countries and regions, according to the U.S. Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the organizer of CES.

More than 400 conference sessions are scheduled during the four-day event, gathering over 1,300 speakers from across the global technology industry.

Since its launch in 1967, CES has been widely regarded as a barometer of global consumer technology trends. Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and rapid technological changes, this year's show underscores a clear push toward AI-driven innovation, cross-industry integration, and solutions addressing long-term global needs.

Chinese AI applications take center stage at CES in Las Vegas

The Pinglu Canal, a major new waterway in south China, has successfully concluded its first trial navigation for passenger vessels, marking another step forward its official opening in September.

Measuring 32 meters long and 5.4 meters wide with a certified capacity of 100 passengers, the test vessel docked smoothly at an integrated service area in Qinzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, at midday on Monday, marking the successful completion of the inaugural passenger service trial along the canal. According to the local maritime authorities, the trial was conducted without passengers on board and served as a comprehensive first-phase evaluation of the canal's navigability for passenger ships, the operational efficiency of its lock system, and the service capabilities of its waterside support facilities.

Monday's successful trail navigation came less than two weeks after the canal officially launched vessel trials on Aug 12, paving the way for future commercial passenger services on the waterway.

"Based on the entire navigation process this time, the channel dimensions of the Pinglu Canal, the operational efficiency of its locks, and the support capabilities of the waterside service areas all met the navigational requirements for tourist passenger vessels," said He Changhai, a law enforcement officer from the Qinzhou Maritime Safety Administration.

Designed to accommodate vessels of up to 5,000 tons, the 134.2-km Pinglu Canal is China's first major river-to-sea canal project planned and coordinated at the national level since 1949.

Stretching from the Pingtang River in Guangxi's Hengzhou City to the Beibu Gulf in the South China Sea, the canal is the backbone of the country's New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, which has evolved into a strategic route linking China's inland regions with countries of the Association of Souchteast Asian Nations and other global markets.

The corridor's rail service handled a record 1.425 million 20-foot equivalent units of cargo in 2025, up 47.6 percent year on year. As of early July 2026, its network has reached 593 ports in 128 countries and regions.

China's major river-to-sea canal completes first passenger vessel trial run ahead of official opening