China has released its first industry standard for embodied artificial intelligence (AI), a milestone expected to shape how next-generation AI systems are evaluated, tested, and deployed.

The standard, announced Thursday, was jointly developed by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) along with more than 40 other institutions.

It establishes a unified framework for benchmarking and testing embodied AI systems, providing clear criteria to assess performance and capabilities.

Focusing on core AI technologies, evaluation methodologies, system architectures, and capability requirements, the standard will officially take effect on June 1, 2026.

The announcement follows a February move by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which published a standard system framework for humanoid robots and embodied intelligence.

Together, these measures signal China’s effort to create technical foundations and industry norms for the rapidly advancing field of embodied AI.

Analysts say the new standard could accelerate innovation while ensuring that AI systems meet consistent safety, performance, and interoperability benchmarks, positioning China as a leader in the emerging global embodied AI industry.