Physical artificial intelligence ( AI ) should begin with simple, trust-building tasks rather than high-stakes household chores, Wang Tao, CEO of Sentigent Technology, told a roundtable forum at CES 2026, emphasizing that AI and robots must first earn humans ’ confidence through interaction in real-world scenarios.

Speaking during the TMTPost "Talk to the World Forums" on Thursday, Wang outlined the company ’ s approach to outdoor companion robots, which are designed to interact with children, follow their owners on walks, and accompany pets. "If a robot breaks a cup once every ten times, it will lose trust forever," Wang said. "We began with small things, like accompanying children outdoors and playing with them — building emotional connections first."

CES 2026, held from Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas, drew 4,112 exhibitors from over 150 countries and regions, covering a net exhibition area of more than 2.6 million square feet. Chinese and American tech companies dominated the event, presenting the latest AI-powered devices and hardware solutions, with tangible, experiential technologies replacing concepts previously confined to research labs.

Wang Tao, CEO of Sentigent Technology

Wang ’ s argument underscores a growing industry focus on "physical AI" — robots and devices capable of interacting meaningfully in everyday life. Sentigent Technology ’ s outdoor robots, equipped with wheeled mobility and leg-like appendages, demonstrate AI applications in companion robotics long before humanoid robots can reliably handle household chores.

"Physical AI is much closer to daily life than people might think," Wang said. He added that the company is prioritizing non-intrusive designs to minimize privacy concerns and ensure user comfort, allowing AI to gradually build trust through repeated interaction.

This approach contrasts with broader industry hype around humanoid robots that can perform complex chores. Experts caution that attempting high-risk tasks too early could undermine adoption and delay integration into households.

Zhao You, Executive President of NEOLIX

The forum also featured Zhao You, Executive President of NEOLIX, whose company focuses on autonomous delivery in urban logistics. NEOLIX showcased its NEOLIX X1, designed to solve the "last 100 meters" challenge in delivery.

Zhao emphasized that autonomous vehicles are best deployed where humans are unwilling or unable to work. "By letting autonomous vehicles handle the last mile of delivery, we reduce the burden on couriers, letting them focus on more valuable tasks," Zhao said. NEOLIX operates more than 16,000 L4-level autonomous vehicles, with a fleet mileage exceeding 80 million kilometers globally.

The company offers cargo options from 0.5 to 12 cubic meters to address diverse logistics needs. Zhao said a combination of visual AI models and high-precision maps remains essential for practical deployment, particularly in complex urban environments where precise loading and unloading are required.

Zhou Chen, CEO of DexRobot

Zhou Chen, CEO of DexRobot, highlighted the role of dexterous hands in AI hardware. The company ’ s robotic hands, featuring over 20 degrees of freedom and tactile sensors, are manufactured in-house to ensure reliability. Zhou described hands as fundamental to intelligence: "Hands came before the brain. Without dexterous hands, humanoid robots will always be nothing more than dancing toys, never truly imbued with a soul."

DexRobot focuses on the "last millimeter" of AI+hardware, investing years into refining precision and durability. Zhou said the company aims to expand from tasks like manipulation and assembly toward future humanoid applications, ultimately enabling robots to handle nuanced human-like tasks.

Across sectors, panelists emphasized that the adoption of physical AI depends on trust and incremental learning. Wang described Sentigent Technology ’ s companion robots as small, non-threatening devices that gradually introduce AI into everyday life. "As AI becomes capable of handling more scenarios and unexpected situations, people will build trust in robots," he said. This, he believes, is a prerequisite for deploying robots in households for chores such as picking up toys or assisting in light tasks.

Zhao You agreed that human-robot collaboration will first address labor shortages and repetitive or hazardous work, rather than replacing skilled professionals. Zhou Chen noted that humans will remain critical for oversight, as AI is currently unable to manage unpredictable situations independently.

Panelists also discussed the globalization of AI and robotics. Wang Tao said Sentigent Technology prioritized the U.S. market as a benchmark for consumer products, citing the market ’ s willingness to try premium devices. "Once we establish our brand there, we can expand globally, including China, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe," he said.

Zhao highlighted NEOLIX ’ s expansion into the UAE, Europe, and Latin America, emphasizing the importance of building trust and partnerships with local logistics providers. He noted that China ’ s complex traffic conditions and advanced supply chains provide an ideal environment for training autonomous systems before deployment abroad.

Zhou Chen outlined DexRobot ’ s approach of first targeting top-tier users to refine products, then scaling for wider adoption while reducing costs. "High-end users help the product go from zero to one, after which we can expand and make it affordable for people globally," he said.

The discussion reinforced the complementary strengths of China and the U.S. in robotics. Wang explained that the U.S. excels at "zero-to-one" innovation, producing groundbreaking inventions, while China is adept at scaling products, improving reliability, lowering costs, and mass-producing at speed. He sees collaboration as key to global progress in AI and robotics.

Zhao noted that Chinese companies currently hold more than 90% of the global autonomous logistics market share, leveraging domestic expertise to serve international clients. Zhou observed that feedback from U.S. users at CES had already inspired new applications, such as using dexterous robotic hands for medical or specialized industrial tasks.

Looking ahead, the panelists discussed the evolution of human-machine interaction over the next ten to twenty years. Zhou predicted that the physical robotics industry will evolve gradually, not revolutionize overnight, but will increasingly enhance efficiency and safety. He expects automation to relieve humans from repetitive, dangerous, or monotonous tasks, allowing focus on creative and cognitive work.

Wang envisioned companion robots maturing alongside users ’ trust, ultimately helping families enjoy outdoor activities and managing simple household tasks. "Our robots ’ AI is like that of a child now, but in ten years they ’ ll reach adult or superhuman levels," he said.

Zhao focused on logistics, expecting fully autonomous urban and long-haul delivery vehicles to be feasible within ten years. "Robots will handle all boring or repetitive work, letting humans concentrate on value-added activities," he said, noting that some jobs, like ridesharing, may remain human-dominated due to complexity and unpredictability.

A recurring theme throughout the forum was the necessity of incremental deployment. Whether companion robots, dexterous hands, or autonomous delivery vehicles, the panelists agreed that real-world testing and human oversight are essential to ensure safety and reliability. AI must earn trust before taking on more critical or personal tasks.

Panelists also emphasized that data collection from human activity will be critical for advancing humanoid capabilities. Zhou Chen noted that wearable exoskeletons and human-robot interaction monitoring enable AI systems to learn from real-world operations, enhancing dexterity and responsiveness.

CES 2026 also highlighted the global prominence of Chinese technology companies. Nearly 35% of exhibitors were from China, many of whom returned to the country after completing PhDs abroad. Wang said China ’ s supply chain advantages make it an ideal environment for hardware innovation, while AI development remains a critical differentiator.

Zhao noted that NEOLIX ’ s logistics technology benefits from China ’ s challenging traffic conditions and algorithmic expertise, enabling solutions that can be scaled globally. Zhou emphasized that Chinese companies are leveraging education and manufacturing strengths to deliver high-precision robotics and dexterous manipulation solutions for international markets.

Panelists agreed that physical AI will evolve gradually, with practical adoption preceding broader transformation. The next decade will focus on trust, incremental deployment, and collaboration between humans and robots. Over twenty years, automation is expected to significantly enhance human life, from health monitoring to education, logistics, and daily chores.

"The ultimate goal is for robots to become true partners, companions, and assistants," Wang said. "They will handle repetitive or dangerous tasks, freeing humans to focus on creative and fulfilling pursuits."

Zhou concluded that the industry should maintain a long-term perspective. "In ten years, we may see incremental changes, but in twenty years, automation and AI will make life dramatically better," he said.

CES 2026 demonstrated that physical AI is no longer a distant concept. With companion robots, autonomous vehicles, and dexterous manipulation systems, the next generation of AI promises to interact meaningfully with humans — slowly, safely, and reliably building trust along the way.