Exhibits equipped with human-like sensors have taken center stage at the ongoing 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai, marking a major leap in embodied intelligence.
The conference showcased cutting-edge robots adapting to both industry and daily life, with China's production of humanoid robots expected to exceed 100,000 units this year.
The standout exhibits include a robotic arm equipped with advanced vision and tactile sensors, which enable it to distinguish real peanuts from fake ones by using precision touch to tell them apart when visual cues were insufficient, and another robotic arm featuring liquid-transfer skills, which can grab pipettes with tactile sensors.
"The visual-tactile approach is the most human-like solution. We believe that for embodied intelligence, true tactile sensing must come close to human touch signals. On top, there's a flexible layer that deforms on contact, just like human skin. When it touches an object, the deformation changes the light and shadow pattern on the back side when we shine a light on it. So we're essentially using photons to measure deformation, which allows us to achieve very high precision, down to millinewton-level force and micron-level resolution. From that, we can reconstruct force texture information," said Li Zhiqiang, exhibitor.
Beyond exhibits with visual and tactile sensors, another highlight at the event was a flexible electronic skin tactile glove designed to be worn by humans, helping robots sense the world.
"Its design is based on the palm lines of human hands. Just like calluses form where hands experience more friction over time, we add sensors in those spots. This allows us to capture the full range of working touch sensations. The glove can detect changes dynamically and the process is extremely smooth," said Lai Jiancheng, exhibitor.
Exhibits equipped with human-like sensors shine at 2026 World AI Conference
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that his country is engaged in a "full-scale war" with the United States, stressing the importance of maintaining economic stability during wartime.
"Today's war is not a war of merely missiles. The enemy has come to the conclusion that it cannot force the Iranian nation to surrender with military strikes," Pezeshkian said at a meeting of the High Council of the Judiciary in Tehran, according to a statement published on the website of his office.
He said that the "enemy" has waged a "hybrid war" against Iran, describing the economy and the people's livelihood as the most important areas of confrontation with the "enemy," and highlighting the necessity to maintain economic stability and protect social assets as two priorities of "the system of governance during wartime."
Pezeshkian added that his government "fully protected" Iran's national rights and interests in negotiations with the United States, including in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on June 18.
Iran has received proposals from mediators, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday, amid continued tit-for-tat strikes between Iran and the United States.
Baghaei made the remarks at a weekly press conference in Tehran without giving details, when asked whether he could confirm reports about new proposals by Qatar for the revival of U.S.-Iran negotiations and a 10-day ceasefire.
Baghaei stressed that Iran's diplomatic apparatus remains active alongside its military responses to U.S. attacks, while condemning recent U.S. strikes against civilian infrastructure, including bridges and medical centers, as violating "people's rights to life, security and human dignity."
On the peace memorandum of understanding signed with Washington on June 18, he said the agreement's "text is completely clear," and Washington has no pretext to breach its promises under it.
He said Tehran adhered to a "commitment for commitment" principle until Washington repeatedly violated its commitments, prompting Tehran to cease its own obligations.
On the Strait of Hormuz, he affirmed Iran's resolve to exercise its sovereignty over the waterway and prevent any "misuse" against its interests.
The United States has launched multiple strikes on Iran's southern provinces over the past week, saying they were aimed at "degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping."
Iran has responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. military bases and facilities in regional countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.
The escalation comes as the two sides, under their MoU, were scheduled to hold negotiations within a 60-day period to reach a final agreement.
Iranian president says his country in "full-scale war" with U.S.
