The Chinese humanoid robot features tech diplomacy at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit 2025 in Tianjin. The multilingual AI was demonstrated to have impressive capabilities and be limited merely by inhibiting drawbacks by NDTV Senior Executive Editor Aditya Raj Kaul at the International Media Center. This robot communicates in English, Chinese, and Russian and serves some 3,000 journalists at the summit. However, it delivered programmed indifferent answers when it was questioned on geopolitical views. This trade also brought to light how China was striving to incorporate the use of advanced technology in the global diplomatic systems and how it had tight control over the media. Having the robot present is symbolic of the capabilities China might have in the field of technology. But also a way to showcase the limitations of AI in showing the expression of independent thought in a confined space.
China’s Tech Display at Global Summit
The human-like robot in the SCO Summit does not only symbolize improvement in technology. It is a symbolic show of AI strength of China in the international arena. The robot has a multilingual configuration, and it functions as a window of information for thousands of journalists. Placing it in the center of the media was not by chance, but it conveys a strong message regarding the investment of China in the AI revolution.
The robot can provide a comprehensive account of facilities in the summit, such as eight working markets, including the media work area, press conference are, and broadcasting stations. It provides registered media access to services such as the official photographs, technology exhibitions, and others. This all-rounded strategy demonstrates how China has realized that contemporary diplomacy needs an advanced infrastructure on the front of media support.
AI Diplomacy Meets Media Control
The interaction indicated further implications for the role of AI in international relations. The robot performed well on technical skills, but was unable to participate in the finesse given out by diplomacy. Its replies were faster and effective but cold, missing the emotion-oriented analysis accorded by human journalists.
This constraint is more pronounced given the media situation in China. It is not only due to programming that the robot is neutral, but the neutrality looks like a symptom of a system where independent media does not exist. All answers are sent by algorithms aimed at preventing any controversy or criticism of the state policy.
This appeared to differ greatly when Kaul tried to deal with elaborate geopolitical issues. The failure of the robot to provide views showed the misalignment between the artificial intelligence and human intuition. Also, powerful as it may have been at processing and distributing information, it was not able to give the context and analysis that render journalism useful.
The Future of Tech-Enhanced Diplomacy
The SCO robot interaction provides an insight into the way in which technology can transform international relations. Though remarkable, it also concerns the limitations of AI in sophisticated diplomatic contexts belonging to the present day. The robot was exceptional in providing logistical information, but would do poorly where understanding on a deeper basis is needed. True diplomatic breakthroughs also require the element of human contact. As Kaul observed in the case of future bilateral interaction between the leaders, such as Modi and Xi Jinping. These processes can be supported using technology, but not substituted by the multifaceted communication that makes international relations move forward.
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