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

Taoiseach of Ireland Micheal Martin, who wrapped up his five-day official visit to China, has praised China's progress in areas such as digital economy and green energy, saying Ireland is willing to deepen economic and trade cooperation with China in emerging sectors while enhancing cooperation on multilateral affairs.

It is Martin's first visit to China since taking office and the first by an Irish prime minister in 14 years.

Speaking during a joint interview with Chinese media outlets in Beijing, Martin spoke positively of the steady development of bilateral relations in recent years, highlighting closer people-to-people exchanges and growing ties in higher education.

"We now have a direct flight between Dublin and China and that's very important in terms of people to people. Our education links are very strong and we have many partnerships between Irish higher education institutions and Chinese higher education institutions and that's important," he said.

Martin said economic and trade ties remain a key pillar underpinning the sound development of bilateral relations.

He recalled that bilateral trade has seen exponential growth since his first visit to China 20 years ago, when he served as minister for enterprise, trade and employment.

Looking ahead, he expressed expectations for expanded cooperation with China in such emerging fields as digital economy and green transition.

"We will be embarking on a major investment in offshore renewables over the next decade. We already are in the planning process. It's a windy island, so we have a lot of wind to harness for energy. So we do see opportunities in AI as well. Ireland is a very strong location for investment, as a member of the European Union, the only English-speaking country now in the Eurozone and in the European Union. And it's a good access point to the European consumer market. We believe there's a greater opportunity for Chinese companies to locate in Ireland," he said.

As Ireland is set to assume the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU) in the second half of 2026, Martin said Ireland adopts a pragmatic policy towards China within the EU and stays committed to promoting a EU-China relationship framework that effectively manages differences while expanding mutually beneficial cooperation.

"What is important is that we continue to dialogue and see can we develop frameworks of agreement on the big picture. The WTO is also very important forum for resolving trade issues. Both Europe and China would acknowledge that industrial resilience, economic security issues are important issues, but that has to be balanced with an open free trade environment. So we are against tariffs. We think tariffs are ultimately damaging to the world economy," he said.

At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Martin paid an official visit to China from Jan 4 to 8. In addition to Beijing, he also visited Shanghai.

Irish Taoiseach sees broader cooperation with China in emerging sectors