China Supply Chain Expo Showcases Expanding AI Ecosystem

For the first time since its launch, the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) has introduced a dedicated artificial intelligence (AI) zone, bringing together more than 200 companies from across the global AI industry. The new exhibition area has rapidly emerged as one of the major attractions at the fourth edition of the event, currently taking place in Beijing.

AI Giants Gather In Dedicated Exhibition Zone

Visitors entering the AI zone are greeted by a strong presence of leading technology companies from China and abroad, including Nvidia, Intel, Qualcomm and Alibaba. The exhibition spans a wide range of AI applications, from large language models and computing infrastructure to robotics and embodied intelligence.

More than 200 organisations representing different segments of the AI value chain are participating, using the platform to explore partnerships and showcase emerging technologies.

The dedicated AI section reflects the growing importance of artificial intelligence in global industrial development and supply chain transformation.

AI-Powered Surgical Robotics Take Centre Stage

Among the most prominent demonstrations is an intelligent surgical system that combines large AI models with autonomous robotics.

The system generates a three-dimensional reconstruction of a scoliosis patient’s spine before surgery. An AI model then analyses the data and produces an assisted surgical plan tailored to the procedure.

Once the plan is transferred to an autonomous surgical robot, the system identifies the precise operating location and provides surgeons with real-time guidance on depth and direction. According to exhibitors, the technology can achieve sub-millimetre operational accuracy.

The demonstration highlights how AI is increasingly moving beyond software applications and into highly specialised real-world environments.

Embodied Intelligence Emerges As A Key Focus

A walk through the AI zone reveals a broad cross-section of the embodied intelligence supply chain. Humanoid robots, AI-powered assistants and robotic volunteers are deployed throughout the exhibition, offering information and guidance to visitors.

Many of the showcased systems demonstrate how artificial intelligence is enabling robots to acquire new capabilities and perform increasingly complex tasks.

“The global supply chain for embodied intelligence and robots is largely concentrated in China. We hope to work together to improve the industrial and supply chains and realise their full value,” said Li Yang, Manager of the Commercial Humanoid Robot Department at UBTECH.

The growing emphasis on embodied intelligence underscores efforts to integrate AI more closely with physical systems and industrial applications.

AI Expands Into Manufacturing And Logistics

At the booth of Chinese technology company iFLYTEK, a robot equipped with dual arm-like grippers demonstrates its ability to sort logistics packages through coordinated movements.

According to Dong Bin, Deputy Manager of the Brand Marketing Centre at iFLYTEK, AI development is shifting from isolated applications towards broader capability enhancement across industries.

“The robot can solve the problem of insufficient training data for embodied intelligence while also entering real production scenarios with genuine demand, such as smart manufacturing and logistics sorting,” Dong said.

He added that AI-powered translation, intelligent manufacturing and smart vehicles are among the sectors experiencing deeper AI integration.

As a result, collaboration across different parts of the industrial chain is becoming increasingly important for advancing practical AI deployment.

CISCE Strengthens Global Supply Chain Cooperation

The fourth CISCE opened on Monday and will continue through Friday. The event features specialised exhibitions covering digital technology, advanced manufacturing, green agriculture, healthy living, smart vehicles and clean energy, alongside a dedicated supply chain services zone.

More than 70 business and industry exchange events are scheduled during the expo, providing opportunities for international cooperation and knowledge sharing.

As the world’s first national-level exhibition dedicated specifically to supply chains, CISCE aims to support more secure, stable, open and inclusive global industrial networks.

Since its inaugural edition in 2023, the event has served as a platform for strengthening supply chain cooperation while promoting innovation across multiple sectors. This year’s introduction of a dedicated AI zone signals the increasingly central role artificial intelligence is expected to play in future industrial and supply chain development.

With inputs from Reuters