AI takes center stage at Ningbo tech expo

The interactive technology zone at the 16th Smart City and Intelligent Economy Expo. [Photo/Yongpai app]

The 16th Smart City and Intelligent Economy Expo opened on Sept 11 in Ningbo, bringing together new AI technologies and products for factories, homes, healthcare, and urban services.

Robots are among the main attractions, with more than 30 demonstrating factory jobs, including quality checks, warehouse sorting, and material handling. Other models show off a different side of robotics: humanoids make coffee and popcorn, while quadruped robots demonstrate industrial inspection, security and emergency response.

Nearly 200 consumer products are also available for visitors to try. They include AI glasses, a transparent display capable of real-time translation, AI-powered stationery and pianos, VR experiences and wearable devices.

The show also looks beyond consumer gadgets to practical uses of AI, with exhibits covering production scheduling and industrial design, as well as applications in medical care, fire detection, agriculture and water management.

A dedicated international section features technologies from Cameroon, Russia, and France, as well as a Canadian AI-powered health mirror and a Pakistani bomb-disposal robot.

The expo, which spans more than 30,000 square meters across five exhibition halls at the Ningbo International Conference and Exhibition Center, runs until Sept 13 and is free to enter.