Science & Tech · AI · 2 hrs ago
Experts meet in Hangzhou to discuss global standards for embodied AI
Experts and companies met in Hangzhou, China, from October 13 to 16 to discuss standards for embodied AI, which combines AI with systems that can sense and act in the physical world.
As robots move into factories and everyday settings, shared standards could help systems work together and make their capabilities easier to assess.
An international standards group, bringing together more than 500 experts from 57 countries and regions, is developing work on areas including data, models and system interfaces.
China has already contributed to an international standard approved in December 2025 that sets out an embodied AI system framework and key capabilities.
A report released at the Hangzhou meeting said the industry is approaching a key window for commercial use, while its supply chains and regional industry clusters are developing.
The report also said advanced robots need millions of hours of useful data, and companies are working with both simulated and real-world data.
Experts called for more international cooperation and improved testing so robots can be deployed safely and reliably; the standards group is continuing its work on multiple projects.
Experts and industry representatives met in Hangzhou from October 13 to 16 to discuss embodied AI technologies, international standards and industry applications.
The meeting was the International Telecommunication Union’s Focus Group on Embodied AI Standards’ third meeting of 2026.
Participants discussed standards for areas including multimodal data, system interoperability and the evaluation of robot capabilities.
The focus group has more than 500 experts from 57 countries and regions and is advancing dozens of standards projects.
A report released at a training session on October 16 said the embodied AI industry had reached a key window for commercial deployment.
- Who
- Experts, scholars and company representatives, including members of the ITU Focus Group on Embodied AI Standards.
- What
- They met to discuss embodied AI technologies, international standards and industry applications.
- When
- October 13 to 16, 2026.
- Where
- Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China.
- Why
- To discuss standards and industry issues as embodied AI moves toward wider use, including data rules, system interoperability and capability evaluation.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The ITU-T F.748.66 standard on embodied AI system frameworks and capability requirements was approved and took effect.
The ITU focus group held its third meeting of 2026 and an advanced training course on embodied AI standards in Hangzhou.
The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Tsinghua University’s Department of Electronic Engineering and the Embodied AI Testing Laboratory released the 2026 Embodied AI Development Report.
- Meeting dates
- October 13–16, 2026
- Meeting location
- Hangzhou, Zhejiang province
- Focus group membership
- More than 500 experts from 57 countries and regions
- Standards work
- Nine subgroups and dozens of standards projects
- Existing standard
- ITU-T F.748.66, approved in December 2025
- Report
- Embodied AI Development Report (2026)
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What people are saying
International standardization is not a prior constraint on technological innovation, but a practical need for embodied AI to achieve large-scale global application.
Standard discussions need to be supported by technological practice.
We are willing to bring this experience into standard-building for embodied AI worldwide and provide a reference from China.