Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

FOR a group of international students, the 27th China Hi-Tech Fair was more than an exhibition — it was a hands-on lesson in a future driven by automation and AI.

At the fair, cutting-edge technology became something they could truly see and touch. They traded punches with robots and held conversations with AI.

The excitement was palpable as students from the Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen (HITSZ), took turns boxing with robots Sunday. “Oh, my god! He punched me and knocked me out!” said Warsi Syed Muhammad Ahmad Hasan, a Pakistani MBA student, after a spirited encounter.

For Adoko Emmanuel Blankson from Ghana, the experience was transformative. “I’m very excited to be here, and I’ve learned a lot today, especially I’ve been fighting with the robots,” he said. He described the fair as “creative, innovative, and eye opening.”

His observations went beyond the spectacle. Noting the increased role of machines, Adoko reflected on their potential to solve real-world problems.   “With machinery like AI robotics and stuff, we’ll be able to change the world,” he said.

He specifically identified medical robotics as a technology he would bring home. He said that robotic systems could improve safety and “overall performance” in healthcare in his country.

The fair, one of China’s largest technology showcases, served as a dynamic classroom for the students.For many, it was a first look at the pace of innovation in China.

“This is my first time to join this fair. Every corner has something interesting,” said Indonesian student Audy Gabriel Firdaus, who was struck by robot boxing matches and back-flipping robotic dogs. “It’s so cool for me because I’ve never seen that before.”

Kesya Chandra Lim, also from Indonesia, interacted with a hyper-realistic humanoid robot. “I previously saw that there’s a robot that really looks like our face. That is really interesting because it can talk with us,” she said.

For her, the fair was a clear indicator of China’s progress. “It really reflects that China is living in the future.”

The students, hailing from countries including Russia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco, Belarus, and Pakistan, are part of a growing number of international students at Shenzhen universities.