Now that AI has a physical form, who will give it a name? Countdown to CIEI 2026 Shanghai Embodied AI Expo.

When large models step out from behind the screen—equipped with joints and hands—and truly enter factories, hospitals, and your home, it is no longer science fiction; it is the reality unfolding in 2026.

From July 2 to 4, the CIEI 2026 Shanghai International Embodied AI Industry Expo will kick off at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). Spanning a 30,000-square-meter exhibition area and featuring over 500 exhibitors and more than 50,000 professional visitors, this is China’s first international exhibition platform dedicated to the entire embodied AI industry chain.

Why is this exhibition worth watching closely?

Embodied AI represents a strategic sector at the national level. In 2025, "Embodied AI" was included in the Chinese government's work report for the first time, officially elevating it to a national strategy; the National Development and Reform Commission is systematically planning the industry's development within the framework of the "15th Five-Year Plan." From policy signals to industrial implementation, this is no mere passing trend—it marks the starting line for a trillion-yuan industry.

Shanghai's Pudong district has already attracted over 100 Embodied AI enterprises, including more than 30 manufacturers of complete robotic systems. A comprehensive supply chain—spanning chips, joints, and sensors to full-unit integration and system solutions—is rapidly taking shape in Shanghai. Leading companies such as Unitree Robotics, Agibot, and Flexiv have secured substantial financing and orders, signaling that the industry has reached the critical inflection point of transitioning from the laboratory to mass production.

CIEI 2026 is perfectly timed for this moment—arriving neither too early nor too late, it aligns precisely with the crucial window where the industry shifts from "technical feasibility" to "commercial viability."

Nine Major Exhibition Zones: A Comprehensive Journey Through the Industry Chain

Spanning from "brain" to "body" and "perception" to "action," CIEI 2026 unfolds the full landscape of embodied intelligence across nine core exhibition zones:

Embodied Intelligence Platform Zone: Humanoid robots, mobile manipulators, special-purpose robots, and drones—forms both familiar and novel are all showcased here.

Perception Systems Zone: 3D vision sensors, LiDAR, six-axis forceorque sensors, and electronic skin—exploring how a robot’s "five senses" are realized.

Decision-Making & Cognition Systems Zone: AI chips, embodied foundation models, VLA (Vision-Language-Action) models, and robot operating systems—revealing the anatomy of a robot's "brain."

Execution Systems Zone: Speed ​​reducers, dexterous hands, frameless torque motors, and servo drives—bridging the final gap between command and action.

Battery & Energy Storage Systems Zone: High-energy-density batteries, solid-state lithium batteries, and BMS—extending the robot's operational runtime.

Intelligent & Connected Vehicles Zone: Autonomous driving, automotive-grade AI chips, and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) cooperation—another facet of embodied intelligence.

Application Scenarios & Case Studies Zone: Industrial manufacturing, healthcare & elderly care, emergency safety, and home services—transforming technology into business solutions.

Industry-Academia-Research Integration Zone: Universities, research platforms, and talent development—the foundational pillars of the ecosystem.

Manufacturing Equipment Zone: The "industrial mother machines" that drive the transition from prototypes to mass production.

Over the course of three days, the entire value chain—from core components to end-user applications—is fully explored. For buyers, this represents a highly efficient window for supplier evaluation and selection; for technology providers, it offers a direct channel to connect with customers.

More than just an exhibition, it is a premier platform for industry collaboration and matchmaking.

Concurrent events at CIEI 2026 span six major sectors:

🔹 Main Forums:2026 Embodied AI Industry Ecosystem Conference & 2026 Embodied AI Application Scenarios Conference—featuring academicians, CEOs of industry leaders, and policymakers on the same stage.

🔹 Authoritative Releases: Premiere of the *China Embodied AI Industry Development Report* & seminars on the formulation and implementation of Embodied AI standards.

🔹 Competitions: 2026 National Embodied AI Technology Application Competition & Embodied AI Robot Application Scenario Competition.

🔹 Technical Forums: Forums on key component innovation, application scenarios, standards system development, and industry-education integration.

🔹 Supply-Demand Matchmaking: Shanghai International Embodied AI Industry Chain Matchmaking Event—featuring targeted delegations of buyers from sectors such as automotive manufacturing, 3C electronics, and precision medical devices.

🔹 Market Events:New product launches & project signing ceremonies.

Of particular note is the organizers' collaboration with 13 industry associations across four major economic zones: Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta, the Bohai Rim, and Chengdu-Chongqing. This means the event connects not merely to a single region, but to a resource network spanning the nation's core industrial belts.

A question worth pondering: When AI gains a physical form, what is its name worth?

Every wave of technological advancement spawns new brands and creates demand for new digital assets. In the mobile internet era, an "App.com" presence was the standard; in the era of large AI models, the ".ai" domain has become the branding essential—registrations for .ai domains have skyrocketed from fewer than 40,000 in 2020 to over one million.

Embodied AI is following this same pattern. As humanoid robot companies, embodied AI model teams, and core component manufacturers seek funding, build brands, and enter the market, they require a "gateway"—a name and address that customers, investors, and partners can instantly recognize and remember.

As a professional platform for domain name trading, DN.com will showcase a selection of premium .ai and embodied AI-related domains at CIEI 2026. From H.ai to N.ai, Robot.ai to Keep.ai, and Games.ai to Watch.ai—these top-tier industry domains are becoming coveted digital assets for embodied AI brands.

If you are an entrepreneur or brand owner in the embodied AI sector, come to CIEI 2026. Beyond exploring technologies, sourcing suppliers, and connecting with capital, consider this: at what address should your brand reside on the internet?

Exhibition Information

📅 Dates: July 2 – July 4, 2026

📍 Venue: National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai Hongqiao)

With less than a month remaining until the event, booth reservations and professional visitor registration are now fully open.

We cordially invite industry peers, technical experts, corporate representatives, and investors from around the globe to gather in Shanghai for this grand event in the embodied AI industry. Join us at CIEI 2026 to exchange cutting-edge technologies, spark innovative ideas, and shape the future of the industry together!