HANNOVER, Germany, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly moving beyond language-based applications into real-world industrial settings, where systems are increasingly capable of making autonomous decisions, Jochen Koeckler, chairman of the managing board of Deutsche Messe AG, has said.
"Thanks to AI, we now have a wide range of technologies that can actually be applied," he said in a recent interview with Xinhua, noting that many visitors this week at Hannover Messe were "surprised and excited" by what is already possible on factory floors.
Hannover Messe, running from Monday to Friday this year, has drawn exhibitors from more than 50 countries and regions, including around 700 from China, making the country the second-largest exhibitor group after host Germany.
A central theme at this year's fair is what organizers call "physical AI," or intelligence embedded in machines operating in the real world, often embodied in humanoid robots. A dedicated hall for humanoid robots made its debut at the event, where Chinese companies were among the most prominent, presenting a broad range of robots that attracted sustained attention from visitors.
Koeckler said the humanoid robots' industrial role is still taking shape. "It's still an open question whether humanoid robots will directly produce cars or other complex products in the factory," he said. "But it's clear that this technology will be used in industry, and probably even more in services and healthcare."
What is not in question, he stressed, is the urgency of understanding it. "If you are riding a bicycle every day and suddenly there is a plane available, you need to understand how to fly," he said. "If you don't grasp the possibilities, your competitor will."
Koeckler pointed to China's recent humanoid robot half-marathon in Beijing, held for the second consecutive year, as an example of the sector's rapid development. "In just 12 months, the improvement was significant," he said. "That shows how enormous the push for competitiveness through this technology can be."
He attributed China's momentum to a combination of factors, including a vast domestic market, a strong pool of young engineering talent, and an exceptional capacity for rapid scaling. "You can see clear improvements almost every six months," he said.
"Chinese companies are moving fast, while German companies are still very strong at producing and engineering things. And that complementarity is exactly where cooperation makes sense."
Koeckler also emphasized that the relationship between China and Germany in AI and robotics should not be seen purely through the lens of competition. The two countries remain important partners across markets, technologies and supply chains, with solid foundations for continued collaboration, he said.
"We have competition, but we also have a lot of room for cooperation," he said. "Competition is good, as it pushes everyone to offer better products at better prices. But there is also space to build together."
International cooperation will be crucial going forward, he added. "A great product can be built by engineers from all over the world, and that is exactly what AI and robotics make possible." ■
