Since April, the global market has been tumultuous and full of uncertainties. At the beginning of the month, the United States proposed so-called “reciprocal tariffs,” casting a shadow over international trade order; shortly thereafter, the U.S. Department of Commerce brazenly prohibited NVIDIA from selling H20 chips to China, attempting to hinder our country’s progress in the technology sector. In response to the U.S.’s unreasonable actions regarding tariffs, our country swiftly took decisive countermeasures to defend its legitimate rights and interests. Currently, the direction of tariffs remains unclear, but one thing is evident: the U.S. is deliberately trying to curb our development pace in the technology race, especially in the two fields that represent future trends—AI and robotics. A smoke-free technological competition has already begun. The U.S.’s demand for NVIDIA to stop selling H20 chips to us stems from the emergence of DeepSeek, which has made the U.S. feel that its “hegemonic” position in the AI field is being challenged. As the best carrier of embodied intelligence, robotics is not only the core landing scene for high-end manufacturing but also an important application direction for AI technology, making it a key area of focus for the U.S. Next, let us delve into the two key areas of Sino-American technological competition—AI and robotics—and analyze the key sub-directions in these two fields to provide a reference for industry research. It is important to emphasize that the following content is for academic discussion only and does not constitute any investment advice, guidance, or commitment.
Field One: AI (Artificial Intelligence)
DeepSeek Field
Industry Overview: The explosive popularity of DeepSeek is like throwing a boulder into the artificial intelligence field, creating ripples and triggering a wave of intelligent transformation across various industries. In no time, numerous companies have jumped in, actively laying out AI-related businesses. The direct impact of this trend is a surge in demand for computing power and data. Companies are increasingly eager for computing resources that can support AI model training, data processing, and other critical aspects, as well as for vast amounts of high-quality data, leading to a significant increase in the relevant market scale.Core Companies: Dingjie Smart, Hangang Co., Parallel Technology, UCloud, Tianyu Data Science, DreamNet Technology, Qingyun Technology, Daily Interaction, Capital Online, Megvii Technology, Hangjin Technology, Tuowei Information, Longsoft Technology, Lianhua Holdings, etc. Among them, Dingjie Smart is continuously deepening its efforts in the field of intelligent driving, committed to promoting enterprises’ transformation towards intelligence, helping them evolve from “Iron Man” to “Transformers,” where humans and systems merge into one, becoming future enterprises driven by intelligence. Its developed Dingjie Athena platform integrates cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data to provide intelligent solutions for enterprises. Although Hangang Co. primarily focuses on the production and sales of steel and its rolled products, it is actively exploring digital economic transformation. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, Zhejiang Data Management Co., has completed the adaptation work for the DeepSeek – R1 large model and has achieved full series distillation model deployment based on domestic GPU clusters, emerging in the AI field.
Computing Power Leasing Industry
Industry Overview: Driven by the strong catalyst of DeepSeek, the market demand for computing power has surged like a flood. In response to this situation, relevant companies have quickly acted, laying out computing power leasing businesses to provide solid infrastructure support for the booming “AI+” initiatives across various industries. Through computing power leasing, companies can flexibly acquire the necessary computing resources without investing huge amounts of capital to build their own computing facilities, significantly lowering the threshold and cost for enterprises to engage in AI business, thus accelerating the application of AI technology across industries.Core Companies: Dongfang Materials, Parallel Technology, UCloud, Qingyun Technology, Capital Online, Shunwang Technology, Tuowei Information, Lianhua Holdings, Litong Electronics, Hongxin Electronics, Zhongbei Communication, Nanling Technology, Xiexin Technology, Hongbo Co., Huina Technology, and Zhongke Shuguang, etc. For example, UCloud, as a leading cloud computing company in China, not only independently develops a series of products such as IaaS, PaaS, and AI platforms, forming a comprehensive cloud computing solution, but also has two self-built intelligent computing centers located in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, and Qingpu, Shanghai. The Ulanqab Intelligent Computing Center focuses on serving the AI enterprise large model training needs, while the Qingpu Intelligent Computing Center focuses on high-timeliness businesses such as AI inference and chip verification, providing computing power support for numerous clients through self-developed achievements like the “Kongming” intelligent computing platform, occupying an important position in the computing power leasing market.
Computing Power Chip Industry
Industry Overview: In the computing power chip field, the acceleration of servers currently relies mainly on GPU chips, whose powerful parallel computing capabilities provide efficient support for complex computing tasks such as AI model training. Meanwhile, the market share of ASIC and FPGA chips is also gradually rising. ASIC chips have the advantage of customization, allowing for optimized designs for specific application scenarios, thus achieving higher performance and lower power consumption in certain situations; FPGA chips, on the other hand, offer flexibility and can be programmed on-site according to different task requirements to meet diverse computing needs. As AI technology continues to develop and application scenarios become increasingly rich, these three types of chips complement and compete with each other in the computing power chip market, jointly driving the industry forward.Core Companies: Zhaoyi Innovation, Cambricon, Haiguang Information, Baiwei Storage, Hengshuo Co., Guoxin Technology, Jingjia Micro, Anlu Technology, Unisoc, Lianqi Technology, Chipone, Fudan Microelectronics, Longxin Technology, etc. Cambricon, as a leader in the domestic artificial intelligence chip field, focuses on the research and development of AI chip products and technological innovation. Its developed AI chips perform excellently in key indicators such as performance and energy efficiency, widely used in intelligent security, intelligent driving, cloud computing, and other fields, injecting strong momentum into the development of China’s computing power chip industry.
AI Agent Industry
Industry Overview: AI agents, also known as AI Agents, represent a highly promising development direction in the AI field. Compared to general large models, AI agents possess stronger personalization and independence, capable of providing more precise and considerate information processing services based on users’ specific needs and usage scenarios. They act like intelligent assistants tailored for each user, playing a key role in various complex business scenarios. Currently, many companies are launching unique AI agents based on their business characteristics and customer needs, promoting the transition of AI technology from theory to practical application and further expanding the boundaries of AI applications.Core Companies: Hand Information, Dingjie Smart, Focus Technology, Kute Intelligent, Fanwei Network, Yonyou Network, New Jue Network, Caixun Co., Zhongke Jincai, Puliang Software, Xinzhi Software, Sitqi, Nanxing Co., Shensi Electronics, Tuowei Information, Chuling Information, Yili Media, Shiji Tianhong, and Kaipu Cloud, etc. Hand Information, leveraging years of deep experience in enterprise digitalization, has launched AI agents combined with AI technology that can deeply understand enterprise business processes, providing intelligent data analysis, decision support, and other services to help enterprises improve operational efficiency and management levels.
Data Center Industry
Industry Overview: Data centers are key networks of global collaboration, responsible for transmitting, accelerating, displaying, computing, and storing data information on the internet infrastructure. In the current booming development of artificial intelligence, the demand for data processing and storage is growing exponentially, which poses stricter requirements for the construction of data centers. High-performance, large-scale, and low-energy data centers have become the new direction of industry development, needing to possess strong data processing capabilities to meet the massive computing demands generated during AI model training and inference, while also focusing on the security, stability, and efficiency of data storage and transmission.Core Companies: Runjian Co., Dawi Technology, Hangang Co., Aofei Data, Zhejiang University Network, Kehua Data, Lian Technology, Wangsu Technology, Yimikang, Capital Online, Dongfang Guoxin, Data Port, Nanxing Co., Ningbo Construction, Yihualu, Meili Cloud, Inspur Information, Wanma Technology, Jialitu, Baoxin Software, and Guanghuan New Network, etc. Baoxin Software, as a leading data center solution provider in China, has rich experience and core technology in data center planning, design, construction, and operation. Its built data centers feature high reliability, high availability, and high energy efficiency, providing stable and reliable data storage and computing services for numerous enterprises and institutions, strongly supporting their digital transformation and AI business development.
Field Two: Robotics
Humanoid Robot Industry
Industry Overview: From the advanced humanoid robots of Yushu Technology shining on the Spring Festival Gala stage to many tech giants entering the field of embodied intelligence research, the development of humanoid robots is accelerating, getting closer to the goal of large-scale production. However, recent marathon events in the robotics community have also exposed issues regarding the endurance, motion stability, and environmental adaptability of robots. These problems, while posing challenges to the development of humanoid robots in the short term, will, in the long run, compel the entire industry to increase R&D investment, promote technological upgrades, and foster healthier and faster industry development.Core Companies: Zhenyu Technology, Orbbec, Mingzhi Electric, Weichuang Electric, Hanwei Technology, Green Harmonics, Sanhua Intelligent Control, Wuzhou Xinchun, Junpu Intelligent, Leisai Intelligent, Shuanglin Co., Junchuang Technology, Lingyun Co., Xiangxin Technology, Lingyun Light, Keli Sensor, Fengli Intelligent, Zhaomin Technology, Tuosida, Hengfeng Tools, Changsheng Bearings, Jiangsu Leili, Hanyu Group, etc. Orbbec focuses on 3D visual perception technology, and its developed 3D sensors and other core components provide humanoid robots with precise environmental perception capabilities, enabling them to better recognize their surroundings and sense obstacles, laying the foundation for autonomous navigation and complex task operations.
Reducer Industry
Industry Overview: As one of the core components of robots, reducers are of paramount importance. For a long time, foreign companies have dominated reducer technology, forming a technological monopoly. However, in recent years, many domestic companies have successfully broken through technical bottlenecks through continuous R&D investment, breaking the foreign monopoly to a certain extent and achieving self-controlled production of reducers. As the industrialization process of humanoid robots continues to advance, the demand for reducers will continue to rise, requiring them to possess higher precision, reliability, and durability, while also demanding greater lightweight and miniaturization, which presents vast development space for domestic reducer companies.Core Companies: Green Harmonics, Shuanghuan Transmission, Zhongdali De, Liancheng Precision, Qinchuan Machine Tool, Shanghai Electric, and Southern Precision, etc. Green Harmonics leads in the field of harmonic reducers, with products that feature high transmission precision, high load capacity, and low backlash, widely used in industrial robots, service robots, etc., providing key component support for the development of the domestic robot industry and occupying an important share in the domestic reducer market.
Dexterous Hand Industry
Industry Overview: As the core terminal execution component of robots, the technology level and maturity of dexterous hands directly determine the operational capabilities and application range of robots. Dexterous hands with high flexibility, high precision grasping, and operational capabilities enable robots to perform diverse tasks such as fine assembly, object recognition, and grasping in complex environments. Currently, many domestic companies have keenly captured this market opportunity, actively laying out the dexterous hand industry and achieving certain results, with some products already realizing small-batch production applications, gradually breaking the technological and market monopoly of foreign companies in this field.Core Companies: Zhaowei Electromechanical, Leisai Intelligent, Lens Technology, Keli Sensor, Wuzhou Xinchun, Jiechang Drive, Shanghai Electric, Haozhi Electromechanical, Fengli Intelligent, Hechuan Technology, etc. Zhaowei Electromechanical has deep technology in the field of micro-drive systems, and its developed micro-sized drive devices for dexterous hands feature small size, light weight, and high transmission efficiency, providing precise and stable power transmission for dexterous hands, enhancing their operational performance and response speed.
Lead Screw Industry
Industry Overview: Similar to the development logic of dexterous hands, high-precision lead screws are also core components of robots. The precision, transmission efficiency, and other performance indicators of lead screws have a crucial impact on the motion accuracy, load capacity, and stability of humanoid robots. Technological advancements and product quality improvements in the lead screw industry will provide strong support for the mass production and performance optimization of humanoid robots. Conversely, as the market demand for humanoid robots gradually releases, it will also drive a significant increase in market demand for lead screw products, promoting technological innovation and industrial upgrading in the lead screw industry.Core Companies: Hengli Hydraulic, Shuanglin Co., Qinchuan Machine Tool, Beite Technology, Wuzhou Xinchun, Best, Lixing Co., Huachen Equipment, etc. Qinchuan Machine Tool has rich experience and advanced technology in lead screw manufacturing, and its produced high-precision lead screw products have high precision and good rigidity, meeting the strict requirements of robots for motion accuracy and stability, widely used in various industrial robots and high-end equipment manufacturing fields.
Motor Industry
Industry Overview: As the core component of motion control in robots, motors are like the “heart” of robots, providing power support for joint movements, arm extensions, and other actions, and are key to achieving precise motion control in robots. Currently, some domestic companies have made significant breakthroughs in motor technology R&D, achieving electromechanical integration, effectively enhancing motor performance and reliability while reducing energy consumption and costs. This not only strengthens the competitiveness of domestic robot companies in the core component field but also promotes the robot industry towards intelligent and high-performance development.Core Companies: Mingzhi Electric, Zhaowei Electromechanical, Fangzheng Electric, Weiguang Co., China Electric Motor, Jiangsu Leili, Dayang Motor, Lili Er, Xingdesheng, Wolong Electric Drive, Shenli Co., Jiangte Electric, etc. Mingzhi Electric focuses on the field of motion control, and its developed motor products feature high speed, high precision, and low noise, performing excellently in applications such as robot joint drives and linear motion modules, providing reliable support for precise motion control in robots, and holding a high reputation and market share in the robot motor market.
Artificial intelligence and humanoid robots are like two shining beacons, guiding the direction of future technological development. The ten major sub-directions listed above are each linked to a vast and complex industrial chain. Numerous companies along the industrial chain perform their respective roles and collaborate, forming a powerful synergy that drives industry development. As emerging industries, every technological breakthrough and every step of industrial upgrading in artificial intelligence and humanoid robots is closely related to the pulse of technological progress. In the current context of increasingly fierce Sino-American technological competition, our country must unswervingly strengthen its self-controlled capability construction in these two fields, increase R&D investment, cultivate innovative talents, break through key core technologies, and eliminate dependence on foreign technologies to avoid being “choked” in technological competition. Of course, around these two main directions, many smaller sub-fields have also emerged. However, due to space limitations, and since this issue focuses on outlining the main directions to raise awareness of these two important fields, we will not elaborate on other sub-fields. We hope that this article can provide useful references for a deeper understanding of the AI and robotics fields, helping everyone seize opportunities in the wave of technology.