Tech firms strive to make robots smarter

The robots showcased at the ongoing World Robot Conference in Beijing are becoming increasingly smart with the help of artificial intelligence technologies, offering assistance in a range of fields including playing the piano and basketball, teaching children English and medical advice.

The trend is expected to continue as companies scramble to differentiate themselves amid mounting competition and meet consumers' growing demand for intelligent products.

Wang Zhiguo, executive vice-president of the research institute at iFlytek Co Ltd, a leading voice recognition company in China, said AI is of increasing importance to robots, as it gives machines "eyes, ears, and a brain".