Zhang Dong: Embodied AI key to driving industrial transformation

During the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Spain, the World Internet Conference Specialized Committee on Artificial Intelligence hosted a forum under the theme "Embodied AI: Leading a New Paradigm in AI Development". 

Speaking at the forum, Zhang Dong, deputy general manager of China Mobile, said that innovative technologies such as embodied AI are becoming a key engine driving industrial transformation.

According to Zhang, AI is rapidly evolving toward AGI, or artificial general intelligence, giving rise to a range of new application scenarios, including intelligent terminals, connected vehicles and intelligent robots. 

The rapid development of embodied intelligence is also unlocking new potential for information consumption, he added.

China Mobile, he said, is committed to becoming a world-class technology service enterprise and is actively leveraging the integration of AI and 5G to build next-generation information infrastructure. 

What’s more, the group has also strategically expanded into the field of embodied intelligence, to support high-quality economic and social development, he said.

Zhang noted that ongoing industry practices are revealing increasingly clear development trends for embodied intelligence. 

In the near term, humanoid robots are expected to become deeply integrated into industrial production and service scenarios — performing standardized, high-intensity and complex tasks to enable large-scale applications, according to Zhang. 

As the technology continues to advance, they are also expected to develop generalized learning capabilities, allowing them to autonomously complete complex tasks and potentially enter households within the next few years, he noted.

Zhang added that China Mobile would continue to leverage its strengths in network connectivity, data and computing services to promote the development of the robotics industry.

 By integrating "connectivity+" and "computing power+" service capabilities, the company aims to advance robots toward scalable and collaborative silicon-based life systems, Zhang said.

The forum brought together around 100 participants, including representatives from government bodies, international organizations, global members of the World Internet Conference and leading experts attending the Mobile World Congress.