Artificial intelligence moves from screens into the physical world.
LISBON
Chinese humanoid robots opened Web Summit 2026 in Lisbon on November 9, placing physical artificial intelligence at the center of one of the world’s largest technology conferences. The event brought together advances in robotics, autonomous AI agents and digital innovation against a backdrop of intensifying technological competition between China and the United States.
Robots developed by Chinese company AgiBot performed on the main stage at the MEO Arena, demonstrating coordinated movements before an audience of up to 12,000 people. Their appearance marked a shift in the conference’s emphasis, moving beyond software capable of generating text and images toward machines designed to interact with physical environments.
Web Summit founder and chief executive Paddy Cosgrave presented China’s growing technological presence as a major development in the global innovation landscape. He argued that Chinese companies, particularly those developing open-source technologies, are becoming increasingly influential in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
The conference features China’s largest delegation to the event, with companies including AgiBot, Galbot and UBTech presenting robotic systems intended for industrial, commercial and service applications. Galbot’s wheeled robot, equipped with two arms, demonstrates an approach to automation designed for environments such as pharmacies, retail outlets and factories.
Yet demonstrations of robotic capabilities should not be confused with evidence of widespread commercial deployment. Reliability, safety, operating costs and the ability to function consistently outside controlled environments remain essential considerations for businesses evaluating these technologies.
The event also highlighted the development of agentic artificial intelligence, systems designed to perform sequences of tasks with varying degrees of autonomy.
Manus AI, a company originally founded in China, presented a 30-second AI-generated video created from a prompt containing just 13 words. The demonstration illustrated how increasingly accessible interfaces could simplify certain audiovisual production processes.
Tao Zhang, co-founder and chief product officer of Manus, described how artificial intelligence is influencing recruitment and engineering requirements. His remarks emphasized the growing importance of employees who can work effectively with AI systems rather than relying exclusively on conventional technical skills.
Alongside these developments, the conference opened amid an investigation involving Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang.
On November 8, Nvidia’s board announced an independent inquiry following reports that Huang may have been targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. The company emphasized that it had no reason to believe its confidential information or American national security had been compromised.
The investigation remains unresolved, and the existence of an inquiry does not establish espionage or wrongdoing by Huang.
Cloudflare co-founder and chief executive Matthew Prince addressed the controversy during the conference, acknowledging Huang’s influence on the development of the global AI ecosystem while recognizing the uncertainty surrounding the allegations.
The episode illustrates the geopolitical sensitivity of an industry increasingly central to economic competitiveness, national security and technological sovereignty.
Washington’s restrictions on exports of advanced semiconductors to China have intensified attention on the relationship between computing infrastructure and international technological leadership. Meanwhile, Chinese companies are demonstrating their capabilities in robotics and AI applications.
Organizers expect approximately 70,000 participants, 900 speakers and more than 2,000 startups during the four-day event. The program also includes discussions on digital regulation, AI-assisted scientific research and changes in professional working environments.
For companies and governments, the underlying challenge extends beyond identifying which country produces the most sophisticated technology. It involves determining whether increasingly autonomous systems can deliver measurable productivity improvements while maintaining operational safety, cybersecurity and human accountability.
Web Summit 2026 opens at a moment when artificial intelligence is expanding from digital interfaces into physical operations. The demonstrations offer a glimpse of that transition, but its economic and social consequences will depend on how reliably these technologies perform beyond the exhibition stage.
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