Plus: My personal favorite and what it might say about us.

Last month, I visited an AI exhibition in Shanghai and captured exciting moments in Shorts. (Technically, it was called a conference, but as a casual one-day visitor, I didn’t attend those big-picture talks.) My focus was on humanoid robotics and automation, instead of AI software or systems.

While I had my personal favorite, it was the viewers of my YouTube channel who determined the real ranking. Based on view counts alone, here are the top 5 robots they watched the most. Let’s begin.

#5

Robot dogs that can climb and jump at World Artificial Intelligence Conference Shanghai 2025 pt.1

brand: DeepRobotics

I saw this impressive robotic dog while attending the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. The level of motion control and suspension was truly fascinating to witness in person. They can work as firefighters in place of human beings.

How do you feel about these robots?

Are you in awe or are you scared?

Do you want a pet like this at home?

#4

robot dog at WAIC SHANGHAI 2025

brand: Hanvon, an IT company famous for language processing

Do you prefer a robotic pet like this or do you still want an organic pet? Do you think your dog at home would get along with a robot like this? How much are you willing to pay for this dog?

I’m by no means a dog lover in real life, but I have no issue with having a dog like this. Cute. No better word for it.

#3

Robot drummer at World Artificial Intelligence Conference Shanghai 2025

Will you be willing to pay for a concert performed solely by robots?

The performance was only available twice a day, and I wasn’t able to shoot the video. However, I had another instrument-related video in my playlist, which you can check out. That was mind-blowing too.

#2

Male robot dancer falls & stands up again at World Artificial Intelligence Conference Shanghai 2025

Dancing on his own feet is the real challenge. They say failure is the mother of success. We can’t grow without failure. The same applies to robots.

Why did this video go viral?

The answer is anthropomorphism. Humans love seeing non-humans show vulnerability and resilience. This mirrors the “fall and rise” narrative so ingrained in our stories and myths. We empathize even with machines when they mimic our own struggles.

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Before we reveal the No.1 video, let me share one video that appeals to me personally, although there is still room for development before we can expect it to be truly applicable in daily life.

Who wants a robot like this at home? This is literally my favorite model in this exhibition.

God knows how much I hate folding my laundry. Someone commented that it’s slower than his great grandma. Well, let’s be patient. Robot vacuum cleaners are slow too. They will get better.

#1

Robot workers on an assembly line at World Artificial Intelligence Conference Shanghai 2025

This video was the crowd’s clear favorite. This company is said to be a state-owned tech venture in Shanghai. Hence, the scale and professionalism.

Notably, this video has gained far more “dislikes” than other videos. Possible psychological analysis will be: The responses reflect hopes and fears about our shared future. The show taps into awe and admiration for human ingenuity—robots doing precise, useful work appeals to both efficiency geeks and those dreaming of a future with fewer menial tasks for humans. However, People hate to be replaced by robots. It is so real that it poses an imminent threat.

Bonus:

Besides the robots, I was also able to try on some smart glasses( AR glasses or AI glasses) at this conference. The 3 major brands I saw people queuing up for were XREAL, Rokid, and Halliday. Unfortunately, I’m more inclined to buy clip-on lenses than full glasses at this point. I just want to see lyrics projected in front of my eyeglasses when listening to Spotify or singing karaoke on Smule. Interestingly, I saw the CEO of XREAL at their booth on that day. I encourage you to watch this interview on Bloomberg (search “Bloomberg XREAL” on YouTube).

Let me know your favorite robot in this series, too. Please go to my YouTube playlist to see all of them.

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