Boxing, Backflipping Robots Rule at China’s Biggest AI Summit

From lumbering six-foot machines to nimble back-flipping dogs, robots lorded over China’s most important annual AI conference in Shanghai this week. Thousands turned up to gawk at the antics of a bewildering array of droids at work: dispensing popcorn and drinks , peeling eggs, sparring in a boxing ring, playing mahjong or just wandering around the cavernous exhibition hall.

The more popular robots were the creations of Unitree, UBTech Robotics Corp. and Agibot, who’ve built up some name-recognition among the hundreds of startups and big tech…