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
