China Physical AI Patent Leadership 2026: Dominating the Global Robotics Race

China's tech ambitions have reached a new milestone as it claims the throne in the physical AI sector. According to reports from Reuters and Nikkei, China now leads the world in patents for AI applied to humanoid robots and autonomous machines, while the US remains a close second.

China Physical AI Patent Leadership 2026 Rankings

The dominance is absolute at the corporate level, where Chinese firms now fill the top three spots in the global patent rankings. Giants like Huawei and Baidu are leading this charge, turning Beijing's push for homegrown technology into tangible geopolitical leverage.

• 1st: China (Occupies top 3 company spots; homegrown tech efforts bearing fruit)
• 2nd: United States (Closing in as a powerful challenger in emerging AI sectors)
• 3rd: South Korea (A distant 3rd with a significant gap between leaders)

Robotics: The New Geopolitical Frontier

Companies like Unitree are no longer just domestic players; they're taking the fight to the U.S. with advanced humanoid models. The race isn't just about software anymore—it's about the physical embodiment of AI in space-based data centers and urban environments. As US-China tensions rise, the battle for patent supremacy will dictate who sets the global standards for the next decade of automation.