Beijing's National Speed Skating Oval, known as the "Ice Ribbon", came alive with the energy of cutting-edge technology. The World Humanoid Robot Games, a major event at the intersection of technology and sports, was more than a showcase of robot performance. Through a range of human-robot interactions, it offered a vivid glimpse into a future where humans and machines move forward together.

Dancing Together at the "Ice Ribbon": When Human Rhythm Meets a Robotic Beat

Opening ceremony of the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games

One of the highlights of the opening ceremony was a unique human-robot dance performance. As the stage lights shifted in sequence, sports dance judges stepped off the judging panel and took to the stage with a robot dance troupe, electrifying the audience.

To the beat of dynamic music, the robots hit every beat with precision, extending their limbs and changing formations in perfect synchronization. Every raised arm, turn and step was executed with remarkable precision.

Human-Robot Dance Performance "Rhythm of the Future"

Their metallic bodies reproduced graceful rhythms in harmony with the elegant movements of the judges. Dancing in sync, humans and robots combined human expressiveness with the aesthetics of technology, creating art together while embodying the promise of a future in which humans and machines coexist and thrive together.  

Robots performing alongside human artists

From the futuristic feel of humans and robots dancing together on the competition floor to the timeless depth of cultural heritage spanning centuries, technology is reaching into every corner of human civilization. If the robot games show us the vast possibilities of artificial intelligence in physical interaction and dynamic perception, then when these technological capabilities are brought into the preservation of cultural heritage, AI becomes a "surgical tool" for repairing the passage of time and a "translator" connecting the past with the present. Through dance, the World Humanoid Robot Games challenge the conventional perception of humans and machines as opposites and offer a new vision of human-machine coexistence. Across the broader cultural landscape, artificial intelligence is likewise reshaping how we connect with history.

Giving Cultural Heritage a Voice: AI Awakens the Art of the Past

In recent years, advances in intelligent algorithms, cloud computing and related technologies have brought major breakthroughs in computing power and practical applications, triggering profound changes across society. Industries and sectors are gradually adopting AI, injecting new vitality into their development. This trend is also driving deeper integration between artificial intelligence and cultural heritage preservation.

One example is the "Art of Voice" project, jointly developed by IBM and the São Paulo Museum of Art in Brazil. According to data from the Brazilian Institute of Economics, 72 percent of Brazilians had never visited a museum, with many believing that art was difficult to understand. In 2017, IBM partnered with the São Paulo Museum of Art to develop "Art of Voice," an AI-powered interactive guide. Featuring a virtual guide named "Watson," the system used natural language processing, cognitive computing and machine learning to enable visitors to interact with selected paintings and sculptures, creating a more personalized museum experience. At the entrance, visitors were provided with headphones and smartphones equipped with the "Art of Voice" application. As they moved through the museum, the system sent notifications inviting them to ask questions about nearby artworks through the microphone on their headphones.

Artificial intelligence is helping bring cultural heritage back to life and bringing us closer to the past. It gives artifacts a pulse and history new colors. These successful cases demonstrate that AI has become a powerful tool for cultural heritage preservation. At the same time, however, we must recognize that human experience and professional expertise remain indispensable to ensuring that AI technologies are developed and applied successfully.

Compiled from Guangming Daily, people.cn, qianlong.com, etc.