China's industrial robots' output up 33.2 pct in Q1

The output of China's industrial robots was up 33.2 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said at a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday.

"In the first quarter of 2026, the applications of artificial intelligence and other new technologies in electronics and consumer goods expanded faster, with ever richer end products like drones and AI glasses. The output of industrial robots and integrated circuits rose by 33.2 percent and 24.3 percent year on year, respectively," said Zhang Yunming, vice minister of industry and information technology.

The press conference was held by the State Council Information Office on China's development of industry and information technology in the January-March period.

A dazzling lineup of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies was on display at an immersive tech fair that just concluded on Tuesday in Guangzhou City, south China, captivating visitors with true-to-life and thrilling game experiences.

Held inside the China Import and Export Fair Complex, the three-day World VR/AR/XR/MR Industry and Smart Glasses Exhibition drew exhibitors from around the world to showcase their hottest immersive products, and tech enthusiasts couldn't wait to test the gadgets and gear firsthand.

"I just experienced the VR skydiving. The sense of weightlessness is very strong, and my experience is fantastic. It feels like real skydiving, but you can't stay for too long, as it's so real that you might get a bit dizzy," one visitor said.

A local company presented several products including a dome-screen theater that delivers glasses-free 3D visuals ideal for tourist attractions.

"The highlight is that we have turned the track-based theater into a dome theater. It offers a 3D audio-visual experience with 8K high-definition images. Our exclusive footage is incredibly sharp, and we've added immersive motion effects along with special effects like wind, rain, thunder, snowflakes, and bubbles," said Liu Jiale, sales manager of the exhibiting company.

The company landed an overseas order on the very first day of the expo, and saw a steady stream of curious visitors stopping by to try out the products.

Another overseas company showcased a VR large-space arena that allows multiple visitors to experience it at once. The game has already attracted players from 35 countries and regions.

"We come here every year to introduce new games. We have many clients, both Chinese and international, from countries like Kazakhstan, Spain, France, and many others. We offer seven VR games with new maps, and our games currently support eight foreign languages," said Denis, the company manager.

China is now home to over 35,000 VR firms, and the whole VR industry is forecast to exceed 350 billion yuan (about 50 billion U.S. dollars) by 2026.