China’s AI story is increasingly being written not only by foundation-model labs, but by companies putting AI into physical systems at scale. Zhuoyu Technology (ZYT) is one of the most interesting examples. Born inside drone maker DJI’s automotive unit before becoming independent, the Shenzhen autonomous-driving company is now taking its technology from Chinese passenger cars into trucks, logistics and Europe, including a new collaboration with Volkswagen. At the centre of that push is a new ‘mobility foundation model’ trained not just on cars, but on data from drones, robots and other moving systems. CEO Shaojie Shen says it already drives better than he does on Shenzhen’s streets.
In this fireside, Prof. Shen Shaojie will unpack what that actually means – how fast autonomous-driving AI is advancing, whether Chinese technology can scale globally, what it takes to turn an AI breakthrough into mass-market economics, and where autonomous driving meets the emerging world of physical and embodied AI. As ZYT also looks towards a potential Hong Kong listing, the wider question for investors is compelling – is this what the next phase of Chinese AI commercialisation looks like?
