Tech-infused toys, such as AI-powered plush dolls and 3D-printed figures, have drawn significant attention from overseas buyers at the ongoing 140th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, in south China's Guangzhou.
Technological innovation has given traditional plush toys more functions. With the adoption of AI technologies, the seemingly ordinary plush dolls on display at the fair can not only talk with people, but also display distinct personalities based on their different character settings.
"Every animal doll has its own distinct personality traits. The driving force behind this is large language models. We can program it to say whatever we want. The cost is completely different from that of ordinary plush toys, and the unit price is much higher," exhibitor Chen Minghuan said.
"This AI is something new, we don't have already in Brazil. My brand is high-quality products. Maybe the target, it's okay for my market," a Brazilian buyer said.
The rapid development of China's toy market is inseparable from a comprehensive manufacturing industrial chain.
Dongguan City in Guangdong is known as China's capital of trendy toys. Leveraging its well-developed industrial support system, local AI toy industry is driving integrated development across multiple sectors, from product design and main body manufacturing to electronic module matching, software algorithm optimization, and back-end technical operations.
"The AI toy industry involves a huge number of components, but basically, in Shenzhen or Dongguan, these two cities alone can supply the entire supply chain," Chen Xiyuan, business head of an AI development company.
The 140th Canton Fair runs in three phases from Oct. 15 to Nov. 4. Over the past 70 years, it has grown into China's largest and longest-running international trade event, featuring the broadest product range, largest buyer turnout, and highest transaction volume.
Tech-infused toys draw significant attention from overseas buyers at Canton Fair
