Intl. students meet the future, spar with robots at tech fair

Video and photos by Lin Jianping

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 artificial intelligence.

At the fair, which closes today at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao'an District, cutting-edge technology became something they could truly see, touch and experience. They traded punches with robots and held conversations with AI.

Pakistani student Warsi Syed Muhammad Ahmad Hasan throws punches with a humanoid robot at the 27th China Hi-Tech Fair in Shenzhen, drawing cheers from a packed crowd.

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

Ghanaian student Adoko Emmanuel Blankson steps into the ring with a boxing robot as the crowd captures every punch.

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 because 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.“Being here today, I've seen that there’s less human input — it's a lot of machine input. And 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. “They have one that they can actually use for humans... with using human to perform surgery, oftentimes you are prone to risk,” he said, suggesting that robotic systems could improve safety and overall performance in healthcare in his country.

Indonesian student Kesya Chandra Lim (2nd R) interacts with a robot with a hyper-realistic, human-like face — a moment that captures the crowd’s attention at the China Hi-Tech Fair in Shenzhen yesterday.

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 attending 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 a human 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.”

Indonesian student Raya Dhevari Salsabiela (3rd R) interacts with a dexterous AI hand during the fair. 

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 universities in Shenzhen. 

International students pose for a group photo at the entrance to the 27th China Hi-Tech Fair at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao'an District yesterday. 

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