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Qatar Tribune
6 hours ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Humanoid robots embodiment of China's AI ambitions
Agencies Serving craft beer, playing mahjong, stacking shelves and boxing, the dozens of humanoid robots at Shanghai's World AI Conference (WAIC) this weekend were embodiments of China's growing AI prowess and ambition. The annual event is primed at showcasing China's progress in the ever-evolving field of artificial intelligence, with the government aiming to position the country as a world leader on both technology and regulation as it snaps at the United States' heels. Opening the event on Saturday, Premier Li Qiang announced China would set up a new organization for cooperation on AI governance, warning the benefits of development must be balanced with the risks. But in the cavernous expo next door, the mood was more giddy than concerned. 'Demand is currently very strong, whether in terms of data, scenarios, model training, or artificial construction. The overall atmosphere in all these areas is very lively,' said Yang Yifan, R&D director at Transwarp, a Shanghai-based AI platform provider. This year's WAIC is the first since a breakthrough moment for Chinese AI this January when startup DeepSeek unveiled an AI model that performed as well as top US systems for an apparent fraction of the cost. Organisers said the forum involved more than 800 companies, showcasing over 3,000 products -- the undeniable crowd pleasers being the humanoid robots and their raft of slightly surreal party one booth, a robot played drums, half a beat out of time, to Queen's 'We Will Rock You' while a man in safety goggles and a security vest hyped up a giggling droids, some dressed in working overalls or baseball caps, manned assembly lines, played curling with human opponents or sloppily served soft drinks from a dispenser. While most of the machines on display were still a little jerky, the increasing sophistication year-on-year was clear to see. The Chinese government has poured support into robotics, an area in which some experts think China might already have the upper hand over the United States. At Hangzhou-based Unitree's stall, its G1 android -- around 130 centimeters tall, with a two-hour battery life -- kicked, pivoted and punched, keeping its balance with relative fluidity as it shadowboxed around a ring. Ahead of the conference's opening, Unitree announced it would launch a full-size humanoid, the R1, for under $6,000. Most high-tech helpers don't need hardware though. At the expo, AI companions -- in the form of middle-aged businessmen, scantily clad women and ancient warriors -- waved at people from screens, asking how their day was, while other stalls ran demos allowing visitors to create their own digital avatars. Tech giant Baidu on Saturday announced a new generation of technology for its 'digital humans' -- AI agents modelled on real people, which it says are 'capable of thinking, making decisions, and collaborating'. The company recently ran a six-hour e-commerce broadcast hosted by the 'digital human' of a well-known streamer and another avatar. The two agents beat the human streamer's debut sales in some categories, Baidu said. Over ten thousand businesses are using the technology already, the department's head Wu Chenxia told AFP. Asked about the impact on jobs -- one of the major concerns raised around widespread AI adoption -- Wu insisted that AI was a tool that should be used to improve quality and save time and effort, which still required human input. For now, few visitors to the WAIC expo seemed worried about the potential ramifications of the back-flipping dog robots they were excitedly watching. 'When it comes to China's AI development, we have a comparatively good foundation of data and also a wealth of application scenarios,' said Transwarp's Yang. 'There are many more opportunities for experimentation.'
Scoop
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Chicago – The Musical Opens This Week
Press Release – Sandra Roberts CHICAGO – THE MUSICAL OPENS THIS WEEK Directed by Michael Hurst Get ready, Auckland—the razzle dazzle is about to begin. The global smash-hit Chicago the Musical opens on Thursday night, bringing all the scandal, sass, and show-stopping glamour of the roaring '20s with it. This explosive new production lights up the stage at the Bruce Mason Centre before sashaying its way to Christchurch and Dunedin for strictly limited seasons. Taking centre stage in this bold new production is a stellar line-up of Aotearoa talent, led by entertainment icon Jackie Clarke as the indomitable Mama Morton, alongside musical theatre powerhouse Nomi Cohen (Kinky Boots, We Will Rock You) as the sly and ambitious Roxie Hart, and Lily Bourne (Shortland Street, Fun Home) as the sharp and sizzling Velma Kelly. They're joined by screen and stage favourite Joel Tobeck (Shortland Street, One Lane Bridge, Avatar: The Way of Water) as the slick, silver-tongued lawyer Billy Flynn, seasoned actor Andy Grainger (Jersey Boys, The Brokenwood Mysteries) as Roxie's loyal husband Amos Hart, and multi-discipline artist Hannah Tasker-Poland (Legend of the Seeker, Ash vs Evil Dead) as the fiery inmate Liz. Helmed by acclaimed Kiwi theatre director Michael Hurst ONZM, this striking new staging of Chicago promises to deliver all the scandal, sass and showstopping musical numbers that have made it a global sensation—including All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango, and Razzle Dazzle. Joining him in sculpting the show's dynamic visual world is celebrated choreographer Shona McCullagh MNZM while the elaborate set is being created by award-winning designer Chris Reddington. These showstopping performances are supercharged by some of New Zealand's finest musicians, with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Dunedin Symphony Orchestra bringing the heat live on stage in their home cities. Based on real events and created by the legendary Broadway trio John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse, Chicago is a searing satire on celebrity and justice, set in a world where fame is the ultimate currency and murder is just the opening act. Chicago centres on Roxie Hart, a chorus girl who dreams of being a vaudeville star. She's cheating on her sweet but dim-witted husband named Amos — and when her lover tries to end their affair, she kills him in a fit of rage. Getting thrown in the Cook County Jail seems like a surefire end to Roxie's dreams of stardom, but her sentence ends up being her ticket to fame. Her lawyer, the smooth-talking Billy Flynn, helps her concoct a defence that earns the press' sympathy and gets her face on the cover of every newspaper in Chicago. And while in jail, Roxie meets Velma Kelly, an established vaudeville star who murdered her husband and sister. The women begin as rivals, as Roxie seeks to steal Velma's lawyer (Billy) and her spotlight, but they come around to an unlikely alliance. Chicago is a spectacle full of social satire, intrigue, love, betrayal, rivalry and friendship, a pageant of music and dance that adroitly shifts between reality and fantasy, as Roxie Hart's world moves from prison to the courtroom to the stage. With a trophy shelf that includes six Tonys, two Oliviers, a Grammy, and six Academy Awards, Chicago is the longest-running musical revival in Broadway history and continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Don't miss your chance to experience the scandal, seduction and showbiz of Chicago the Musical—live on stage this winter. It would be a crime to miss it.
Scoop
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Chicago – The Musical Opens This Week
Directed by Michael Hurst AUCKLAND THIS THURSDAY 31 JULY | BRUCE MASON CENTRE | TICKETMASTER CHRISTCHURCH 17 – 24 AUGUST | ISAAC THEATRE ROYAL | TICKETEK Get ready, Auckland—the razzle dazzle is about to begin. The global smash-hit Chicago the Musical opens on Thursday night, bringing all the scandal, sass, and show-stopping glamour of the roaring '20s with it. This explosive new production lights up the stage at the Bruce Mason Centre before sashaying its way to Christchurch and Dunedin for strictly limited seasons. Taking centre stage in this bold new production is a stellar line-up of Aotearoa talent, led by entertainment icon Jackie Clarke as the indomitable Mama Morton, alongside musical theatre powerhouse Nomi Cohen (Kinky Boots, We Will Rock You) as the sly and ambitious Roxie Hart, and Lily Bourne (Shortland Street, Fun Home) as the sharp and sizzling Velma Kelly. They're joined by screen and stage favourite Joel Tobeck (Shortland Street, One Lane Bridge, Avatar: The Way of Water) as the slick, silver-tongued lawyer Billy Flynn, seasoned actor Andy Grainger (Jersey Boys, The Brokenwood Mysteries) as Roxie's loyal husband Amos Hart, and multi-discipline artist Hannah Tasker-Poland (Legend of the Seeker, Ash vs Evil Dead) as the fiery inmate Liz. Helmed by acclaimed Kiwi theatre director Michael Hurst ONZM, this striking new staging of Chicago promises to deliver all the scandal, sass and showstopping musical numbers that have made it a global sensation—including All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango, and Razzle Dazzle. Joining him in sculpting the show's dynamic visual world is celebrated choreographer Shona McCullagh MNZM while the elaborate set is being created by award-winning designer Chris Reddington. These showstopping performances are supercharged by some of New Zealand's finest musicians, with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Dunedin Symphony Orchestra bringing the heat live on stage in their home cities. Based on real events and created by the legendary Broadway trio John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse, Chicago is a searing satire on celebrity and justice, set in a world where fame is the ultimate currency and murder is just the opening act. Chicago centres on Roxie Hart, a chorus girl who dreams of being a vaudeville star. She's cheating on her sweet but dim-witted husband named Amos — and when her lover tries to end their affair, she kills him in a fit of rage. Getting thrown in the Cook County Jail seems like a surefire end to Roxie's dreams of stardom, but her sentence ends up being her ticket to fame. Her lawyer, the smooth-talking Billy Flynn, helps her concoct a defence that earns the press' sympathy and gets her face on the cover of every newspaper in Chicago. And while in jail, Roxie meets Velma Kelly, an established vaudeville star who murdered her husband and sister. The women begin as rivals, as Roxie seeks to steal Velma's lawyer (Billy) and her spotlight, but they come around to an unlikely alliance. Chicago is a spectacle full of social satire, intrigue, love, betrayal, rivalry and friendship, a pageant of music and dance that adroitly shifts between reality and fantasy, as Roxie Hart's world moves from prison to the courtroom to the stage. With a trophy shelf that includes six Tonys, two Oliviers, a Grammy, and six Academy Awards, Chicago is the longest-running musical revival in Broadway history and continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Don't miss your chance to experience the scandal, seduction and showbiz of Chicago the Musical—live on stage this winter. It would be a crime to miss it.
Japan Today
a day ago
- Business
- Japan Today
Humanoid robots embodiment of China's AI ambitions
People watch humanoid robots boxing at an exhibition during the World AI Conference in Shanghai By Rebecca BAILEY Serving craft beer, playing mahjong, stacking shelves and boxing, the dozens of humanoid robots at Shanghai's World AI Conference (WAIC) this weekend were embodiments of China's growing AI prowess and ambition. The annual event is primed at showcasing China's progress in the ever-evolving field of artificial intelligence, with the government aiming to position the country as a world leader on both technology and regulation as it snaps at the United States' heels. Opening the event on Saturday, Premier Li Qiang announced China would set up a new organization for cooperation on AI governance, warning the benefits of development must be balanced with the risks. But in the cavernous expo next door, the mood was more giddy than concerned. "Demand is currently very strong, whether in terms of data, scenarios, model training, or artificial construction. The overall atmosphere in all these areas is very lively," said Yang Yifan, R&D director at Transwarp, a Shanghai-based AI platform provider. This year's WAIC is the first since a breakthrough moment for Chinese AI this January when startup DeepSeek unveiled an AI model that performed as well as top US systems for an apparent fraction of the cost. Organisers said the forum involved more than 800 companies, showcasing over 3,000 products -- the undeniable crowd pleasers being the humanoid robots and their raft of slightly surreal party tricks. At one booth, a robot played drums, half a beat out of time, to Queen's "We Will Rock You" while a man in safety goggles and a security vest hyped up a giggling crowd. Other droids, some dressed in working overalls or baseball caps, manned assembly lines, played curling with human opponents or sloppily served soft drinks from a dispenser. While most of the machines on display were still a little jerky, the increasing sophistication year-on-year was clear to see. The Chinese government has poured support into robotics, an area in which some experts think China might already have the upper hand over the United States. At Hangzhou-based Unitree's stall, its G1 android -- around 130 centimeters tall, with a two-hour battery life -- kicked, pivoted and punched, keeping its balance with relative fluidity as it shadowboxed around a ring. Ahead of the conference's opening, Unitree announced it would launch a full-size humanoid, the R1, for under $6,000. Most high-tech helpers don't need hardware though. At the expo, AI companions -- in the form of middle-aged businessmen, scantily clad women and ancient warriors -- waved at people from screens, asking how their day was, while other stalls ran demos allowing visitors to create their own digital avatars. Tech giant Baidu on Saturday announced a new generation of technology for its "digital humans" -- AI agents modelled on real people, which it says are "capable of thinking, making decisions, and collaborating". The company recently ran a six-hour e-commerce broadcast hosted by the "digital human" of a well-known streamer and another avatar. The two agents beat the human streamer's debut sales in some categories, Baidu said. Over ten thousand businesses are using the technology already, the department's head Wu Chenxia told AFP. Asked about the impact on jobs -- one of the major concerns raised around widespread AI adoption -- Wu insisted that AI was a tool that should be used to improve quality and save time and effort, which still required human input. For now, few visitors to the WAIC expo seemed worried about the potential ramifications of the back-flipping dog robots they were excitedly watching. "When it comes to China's AI development, we have a comparatively good foundation of data and also a wealth of application scenarios," said Transwarp's Yang. "There are many more opportunities for experimentation." © 2025 AFP
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Robots play drums, serve drinks at China expo
Serving craft beer, playing mahjong, stacking shelves and boxing, the dozens of humanoid robots at Shanghai's World AI Conference (WAIC) this weekend were embodiments of China's growing AI prowess and ambition. The annual event is primed at showcasing China's progress in the ever-evolving field of artificial intelligence, with the government aiming to position the country as a world leader on both technology and regulation as it snaps at the United States' heels. Organisers said the forum involved more than 800 companies, showcasing over 3,000 products - the undeniable crowd pleasers being the humanoid robots and their raft of slightly surreal party tricks. Opening the event on Saturday, Premier Li Qiang announced China would set up a new organisation for cooperation on AI governance, warning the benefits of development must be balanced with the risks. But in the cavernous expo next door, the mood was more giddy than concerned. "Demand is currently very strong, whether in terms of data, scenarios, model training, or artificial construction. The overall atmosphere in all these areas is very lively," said Yang Yifan, R&D director at Transwarp, a Shanghai-based AI platform provider. At one booth, a robot played drums, half a beat out of time, to Queen's We Will Rock You while a man in safety goggles and a security vest hyped up a giggling crowd. Other droids, some dressed in working overalls or baseball caps, manned assembly lines, played curling with human opponents or sloppily served soft drinks from a dispenser. While most of the machines on display were still a little jerky, the increasing sophistication year-on-year was clear to see. The Chinese government has poured support into robotics, an area in which some experts think China might already have the upper hand over the United States. At Hangzhou-based Unitree's stall, its G1 android - around 130 centimetres (four feet) tall, with a two-hour battery life - kicked, pivoted and punched, keeping its balance with relative fluidity as it shadowboxed around a ring. Ahead of the conference's opening, Unitree announced it would launch a full-size humanoid, the R1, for under $6,000. Tech giant Baidu on Saturday announced a new generation of technology for its "digital humans" - AI agents modelled on real people, which it says are "capable of thinking, making decisions, and collaborating". For now, few visitors to the WAIC expo seemed worried about the potential ramifications of the back-flipping dog robots they were excitedly watching. "When it comes to China's AI development, we have a comparatively good foundation of data and also a wealth of application scenarios," said Transwarp's Yang. afp
