Intelligence that is tightly coupled with a physical body enables machines to perceive, move, and interact with the real world in meaningful ways. This topic covers AI systems embedded in robots and autonomous machines where learning, perception, and decision-making are directly linked to sensors, actuators, and physical constraints. It explores how embodied models are trained through real-world experience, simulation, and reinforcement learning, as well as their role in manipulation, locomotion, and human interaction. Embodied AI sits at the intersection of robotics and artificial intelligence, highlighting the shift from purely digital intelligence to systems that learn through action. As robots move into unstructured environments, embodied AI becomes essential for adaptive and robust behavior.
Alibaba has unveiled RynnBrain, an artificial intelligence model designed to help robots understand and interact with the physical world, marking the company’s latest move into physical AI and embodied robotics.
China has launched the world’s first humanoid robot free combat league in Shenzhen, turning martial arts-style competition into a real-world testing ground for embodied AI and robotics.
Chinese robotics company AGIBOT staged an unprecedented live gala where humanoid robots performed comedy, magic, music, and dance, signaling a new phase in human-robot cultural interaction.
Humanoid robots have joined monks at China’s Shaolin Temple for kung fu training, highlighting how physical AI is increasingly intersecting with human movement, culture, and embodied learning.
China’s Li Auto is expanding beyond electric vehicles, positioning artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics as core pillars of its long-term strategy.
Electric vehicle startup Faraday Future is shifting its strategy toward humanoid robots and embodied AI, joining a growing list of automakers betting on robotics to redefine their future beyond cars.
New York Robotics has formally launched as the Tri-State region surpasses 160 robotics startups, signaling New York’s rise as a major global center for robotics and physical AI.
CES 2026 marked a turning point for Physical AI, as humanoids, autonomous machines, and AI-driven platforms moved from experiments to scalable, real-world systems.
Mobileye agreed to acquire humanoid robotics startup Mentee Robotics for $900 million, expanding its autonomy technology from vehicles into Physical AI and general-purpose humanoid robots.
Qualcomm introduced a comprehensive robotics technology stack at CES 2026, unveiling new processors and partnerships aimed at scaling Physical AI from service robots to full-size humanoids.