The 2026 Global Developer Pioneers Summit opened in Shanghai on Friday, shining a spotlight on the latest advanced technologies and products and giving developers the chance to explore the expanding frontiers of artificial intelligence (AI).

The three-day event in the city's Xuhui District focuses on frontier sectors, highlighting Shanghai's ambition to become a global hub for AI innovation, and includes a series of contests, workshops, interactive experiences and even carnival-like events.

The summit also places a strong emphasis on cutting-edge technologies, with a dedicated section for the exploration of open-source AI agent OpenClaw and displays of advanced humanoid robots.

Among the exhibitors is Robo Party, a newly-founded firm based in the Zhangjiang Robot Valley, one of the city's first specialized industrial parks for the robotics sector. The company focuses on developing fully open-source bipedal humanoid robots and is presenting its 1.2-meter-tall prototype 'Roboto' at the event.

"Our humanoid robots are designed specifically for developers. Many robotics companies focus solely on showcasing achievements, like how many flips their robot can do or how many incredible moves it can make. But we're carefully analyzing the industry, sharing the technical details, the lessons learned from missteps, and the insights into what truly needs to be done all openly and transparently," said Lu Junjie, the co-founder and head of design of Robo Party.

Large language models are another major highlight of the summit. Leading Chinese AI software company SenseTime has unveiled two key breakthroughs it has made in AI voice technology, including its 'AudioClaw' software, an intelligent input method built on a multimodal large model, and 'SenseAudio', an open AI voice platform.

"The most common scenarios in daily life may involve things like using input methods or attending meetings. By integrating OpenClaw with our input methods and meeting assistants, you get your own personal 'lobster'[AI assistant]," said Zhan Mingjie, head of SenseTime's voice and interactive large model teams.

Riding the wave of the OpenClaw craze in China, the event has set up a special area where attendees can experience the so-called phenomenon of "raising lobster," a term that originated from the Chinese AI agent OpenClaw, which uses a red lobster as its icon. It has since become a buzzword, adopted by Chinese users to describe the process of setting up and training their smart assistant.

In collaboration with multiple companies, including SenseTime and China Telecom, one of China's three major telecom operators, the summit offers a one-stop "lobster raising" experience, adding some further interactive fun for attendees. In less than 30 minutes, participants can create their very own "AI lobster" and receive a subsequent "lobster birth certificate."