Chinese humanoid robots steal show at Portugal's global Web Summit

A humanoid robot developed by Hangzhou-based Unitree performs at the Web Summit 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Humanoid robots developed by Unitree Robotics, a company from Hangzhou, China, became the highlight of the Web Summit 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal, on Nov 11. Dancing energetically in sneakers, the robots drew massive crowds, with attendees from around the world lining up to take photos and interact with them.

"The world's most advanced humanoid robots showcased this year are not from Europe or the United States, but from China," said Paddy Cosgrave, co-founder and CEO of the Web Summit, during the opening ceremony on Nov 10. The remark set the tone for the event, where Chinese technology emerged as one of the most discussed topics.

A visitor takes a photo with the Unitree humanoid robot. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Dubbed the Davos for Geeks, the Web Summit is one of the world's largest tech conferences. This year's edition, held from Nov 10 to 13, welcomed over 70,000 participants from 157 countries, a record high. A dedicated China Summit section featured its own stage and theme day, which remained packed throughout the sessions.

Media outlets including American magazineForeign Policy,Radio France Internationale, and Portugal'sPublicohighlighted the strong presence of Chinese innovation. Alongside Unitree's robot show, Shenzhen-based Bambu Lab showcased a 3D printer powered by generative AI, capable of producing finished products within hours from simple text prompts.

Cosgrave concluded that the dominance of Western technology "is fading", adding that China has evolved from a follower to a global driver of innovation — a shift clearly on display at this year's summit.