Chinese embodied AI company AGIBOT held an Australia and New Zealand partner conference in Melbourne on Friday, announcing a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) model with local partners and localized solutions for mining, commercial cleaning and facility management, research and education, and cultural entertainment.
The company said the initiatives aim to accelerate the deployment of embodied AI technologies in the two markets.
At the conference, AGIBOT showcased humanoid robots, quadrupeds and commercial cleaning robots.
Industry representatives from Australia and New Zealand say the robots could be used in a variety of industrial settings. They also say advances by Chinese companies are accelerating the adoption of robotics and could help reshape the future of work.
"In my industry of education, we've seen an incredible amount of new Chinese companies into the market with brand new humanoids and quadruped robots. The innovation that we've seen has been absolutely incredible and we see now the uptake of these robotics in that industry quite well, thanks to these advancements from the Chinese companies; it's been really great to see," said Adrian Tyson, founder and CEO of Neuranext AI.
"China is clearly a world leader on AI. Investing a lot in this area, made it a national priority and really driving this forward for the world. So Chinese robotics and humanoid robots in particular are really gonna change the future of work. And our expectation is these will drive productivity and prosperity into the future for Australian industry," said David Pearce, founder and CEO of Our Robot Future.
According to AGIBOT, the RaaS model is designed to reduce customers' upfront costs, with the company supplying robot products and local partners providing logistics, technical support and deployment services.
The company said it plans to expand its local service network and advance joint innovation projects in Australia and New Zealand to support the safe and reliable commercial deployment of embodied AI technologies.
Australian entrepreneurs see Chinese robotics driving future productivity
Business leaders, researchers and entrepreneurs from around the world gathered at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), where discussions are focusing on turning AI innovation into cross-border partnerships and real-world applications.
The 2026 WAIC is running in Shanghai from Friday to Monday under the theme "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future."
Across the exhibition halls, conversations often extended beyond product demonstrations, with visitors exploring potential partnerships, supply chains and overseas expansion.
Among them was Paolo Brizzi, chief information officer of Italy's Competence Center for Industry and Manufacturing (CIM), who met with a Chinese AI company to discuss cooperation ranging from industrial applications to entering the European market.
"My point is not to be a customer or a provider of technologies, but to identify parts [where we can] actually collaborate and work together," he said.
The four-day conference has also created opportunities for startups to connect with investors, researchers and potential customers. One startup launched an online networking group on the opening day, attracting hundreds of participants who exchanged ideas, explored business opportunities and sought technical solutions.
Participants said AI innovation depends not only on technological breakthroughs but also on cooperation across industries and countries.
"Collaboration is important because alone you cannot do so much. It needs to be a team support ecosystem," said Florian Wohlrab, CEO of Canada-based OpenHW Foundation.
For many international visitors, the conference is also an opportunity to explore how AI can help address practical challenges. Omar Khan, a participant from Pakistan, said international cooperation is essential to ensuring AI benefits everyone.
"I think, for me, we are all the one. We're human and I think we can cooperate a lot," he said.
Some attendees were looking for solutions to challenges in their home countries. A visitor from Kenya said AI applications such as weather forecast and soil analysis could help improve agricultural productivity across many parts of Africa, where farming remains a cornerstone of the economy.
As countries race to advance AI technologies, participants at this year's WAIC said the conference has become a platform for connecting ideas, technology and demand across borders, helping turn AI innovation into practical international cooperation.
World AI Conference highlights growing demand for global AI partnership
