China is positioning robotics as a core pillar of its AI strategy in its next five-year plan, shifting emphasis from software to hardware. It plans to unveil next-generation robots at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference. Analysts expect large subsidies and rising private investment, while China’s production share is seen as dominant. Industry groups and research institutes say gaps remain between demos and real-world use, and costs and dependencies persist.

China produced 67 new unicorn companies in the first half of 2026, showing a rapid expansion in its tech startup ecosystem focused on artificial intelligence and robotics. More than 53 percent of new unicorns were in AI and robotics. Hangzhou-based AI startup DeepSeek drew attention after being valued at about 400 billion yuan in its first external fundraising. PitchBook data showed China accounted for 67 of 90 new unicorns globally in the period.