by Wen Tsui
LAS VEGAS, United States, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- As technology companies showcased breakthrough products at an official media preview event on Sunday ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), innovations from China are emerging as notable game changers in areas ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) to robotics.
The annual special promotion event, CES Unveiled, held two days before the world's largest and most influential technology trade show, offered a preview of key trends shaping the sectors of consumer health, human capability and home automation.
Among the exhibitors, Ascentiz, a robotics startup founded by Chinese mountaineer Feng Sha and robotics researcher Wang Tian, introduced what it described as the world's first modular exoskeleton system designed for everyday consumers.
Traditional exoskeletons are typically developed for industrial or medical use and often cost over 10,000 U.S. dollars. Ascentiz aims to make the technology more accessible, with products priced between 1,500 and 3,400 dollars. The system targets athletes, outdoor enthusiasts and elderly users, while also helping aging workers extend their careers.
The technology should "dissolve into the experience, leaving only the enhanced human," said Feng. "We have indeed broken through the traditional medical and industrial boundaries of exoskeletons, defining them as 'human capability enhancement equipment.' We target everyday consumers who love life and value efficiency and experience, making enhancement technology part of daily life, not just a rehabilitation or labor tool," Feng told Xinhua.
Another Chinese exhibitor, Kling AI, demonstrated artificial intelligence tools for video creation and editing. Launched in China just 18 months ago, the platform has generated over 600 million videos and reported annual revenues exceeding 100 million dollars.
The company said its tools are already used by professional filmmakers and television producers, while its latest model is designed to be accessible to users without technical expertise. Video edits can be made through simple text commands such as "change daytime to dusk" or "remove bystanders."
By significantly reducing cost and production time, Kling AI offers an alternative to traditional professional video production, which has long been considered expensive and time-consuming. The technology is enabling small companies, marketing teams and content creators to produce works previously limited to large studios with substantial budgets.
Jon Erwin, creator and co-showrunner of Amazon Prime Video's drama series "House of David," credits Kling AI as one of the key tools that enabled his indie studio to achieve production ambitions previously constrained by budget and timeline.
In an interview in October 2025, Erwin explained that using AI "allowed us to tell the story in a budget and time frame that we could afford," adding that the technology enables filmmakers to dream in real time and collaborate on materials much more quickly.
Chinese robot vacuum manufacturer Narwal also unveiled its Flow 2 model at the event. Equipped with dual cameras, the device can identify valuable household items such as jewelry and wallets to prevent accidental damage.
Powered by AI, the vacuum is scheduled to launch in April. The company said the technology could make robot vacuums more reliable and accelerate adoption across homes in Asia, Europe and North America.
In addition to Chinese innovations, several companies from other countries also drew attention. Withings, a French health technology firm, unveiled a smart scale called Body Scan 2, which measures over 60 health indicators in just 90 seconds, aiming to bring hospital-level measurement into home bathrooms.
U.S.-based Tombot, founded in 2017, presented "Jennie," a robotic Labrador puppy designed to provide emotional support for elderly people with dementia and related conditions. The development took nine years, resulting in lifelike movements, realistic fur and facial expressions, and AI-driven responses that vary to prevent boredom.
Canadian health technology company NuraLogix demonstrated a smart mirror that analyzes facial video in 30 seconds. The device estimates 100 health insights from facial data, including heart age, vascular stiffness and metabolic health, the company said.
The mirror offers a unified health assessment at home and represents a new category of preventive health tools, competing with scales and wearable devices while providing faster and more comprehensive analysis. ■
