Aug 24, 2026|
JD.com Unveils Robotics Strategy at World Robot Conference
JD.com unveiled its robotics strategy at the 2026 World Robot Conference (WRC 2026), outlining plans to commit RMB 10 billion in resources to the sector by 2028 and accelerate the deployment of robots across homes, businesses and public services.
JD.com’s strategy focuses on supply chain, lifecycle services and technology. Leveraging its retail, logistics, healthcare, industrial and service businesses, the company aims to help robotics companies move more quickly from product development to large-scale commercial deployment.
Held in Beijing from 19 to 23 August, WRC 2026 brings together companies, researchers and industry experts from around the world. At WRC 2026, JD.com has created a 600-square-metre immersive exhibition space with robotic brands and partners.
Supporting Robotics Growth Through Supply Chain Capabilities
JD.com plans to invest RMB 10 billion in resources to the robotics sector by 2028. The company aims to help 100 robotics brands each generate more than RMB 1 billion in sales, bringing consumer robots to households in China and worldwide.
JD.com’s first-party retail business already joined by more than 200 robotics brands, as well as a wide range of manufacturers of core robot components, serving individual and household consumers.
Building Lifecycle Services
JD.com expects to establish robotics after-sales service capabilities covering more than 100 countries and support the creation of more than 100,000 jobs for robotics service engineers, over the next five years.
The company also plans to establish 80 RoboBase facilities that offers an integrated service platform covering the entire robotics lifecycle. Services will include product display and delivery, repair and maintenance, research and design, pilot assembly, data collection, manufacturing and product upgrades, aiming to help robotics companies manage the servicing and maintenance of products at scale, while giving customers access to more reliable after-sales support.
Accelerating Real-World Deployment
JD.com’s JoyInside embodied intelligence platform is developing an “AI Home” ecosystem that empower smart devices with AI capabilities. By the end of 2026, more than 10 million devices and robots are expected to be connected to the ecosystem.
The company’s cloud business, JD Cloud, also plans to collect more than 10 million hours of high quality training data needed by robotics over the next two years, leveraging the company’s real-world scenarios across commercial operations such as retail, logistics, healthcare, services and more.
These capabilities are intended to help robots move beyond laboratories and operate reliably in real-world environments, supporting JD.com’s ambition to become the World’s Largest Operational Platform for the Physical World.
Wide Applications of Robots in Operations
Robots are already being deployed across a variety of JD.com operations. Applications include customer assistance, shelf replenishment and coffee preparation in JD MALL stores; warehousing, goods handling, automated sorting and autonomous delivery in logistics; and fault diagnosis, battery replacement, equipment maintenance and recycling in robotics servicing. Robots are also being tested in healthcare services, including automated packing in pharmacies and assisted-living services for older people.
JD.com is also working with more than 20 robotics brands on standardised battery products, covering categories including embodied intelligence robots and wheeled and legged robots. By setting common specifications for battery dimensions, interfaces, communication protocols and safety requirements, the company will work with robotics partners to improve battery safety while reducing operating costs and increasing efficiency.
Aug 19, 2026|
From Product Discovery to Brand Storytelling: How AI Is Reshaping Qixi Gifting on JD.com
Qixi Festival, often known as Chinese Valentine’s Day, has become one of China’s most important occasions for romantic gifting. In the week leading up to Qixi Festival, searches on JD.com for jewellery and luxury footwear more than doubled compared with last year, while searches for luxury watches rose by more than 200%.
JD.com has become a major destination for gifting in China, supported by its authenticity guarantee, extensive product selection and fast, reliable delivery. The number of brands working with JD.com on major product launches for this year’s Qixi Festival are up by150% on last year.
This year, JD.com data points not only to growing demand for jewellery, watches, handbags and prestige beauty, but also to a new development in the gifting journey: AI is helping consumers discover, evaluate and connect with products.
Bringing Products to Life Through AI-Powered 3D Shopping
While online product content has evolved from text and images to video and livestreaming, most information is still presented on a flat screen. JD.com is exploring how AI and 3D technology can make this experience more immersive. The company’s mobile, glasses-free 3D shopping solution combines AI with 3D modelling to make products appear to extend beyond the screen.
Initially applied to consumer electronics and home appliances, the technology has now expanded into beauty. Ahead of Qixi Festival, JD.com partnered with premium brands including Estée Lauder and La Mer to introduce the experience for selected products, giving customers a richer way to explore potential gifts before making a purchase. Customers can examine details such as product design, packaging and surface texture directly through the JD.com app, without glasses, a headset or any additional equipment.
JD.com data shows that the 3D product technology has increased the number of orders by up to 30% in previous applications. An earlier campaign with SK-II also recorded a 60% increase in click-through rates.
AI also makes it easier and quicker for brands to generate 3D model from existing product images, creating a 3D experience in a little as ten minutes, saving time and resources.
Extending AI into Luxury Storytelling
JD Luxury is also introducing AI-powered creative content into its Qixi campaign for the first time, extending the application of AI from retail operations and shopping experiences into brand storytelling.
Using generative AI, JD Luxury created a Qixi campaign film centred on its premium services, authenticity guarantee and fast delivery, under the theme “Luxury Delivered the Next Day”. AI supported the creative process from script development to visual design, helping the team combine a technology-led aesthetic with the refined tone expected of luxury storytelling.
The applications shows the role of AI in retail is expanding, while consumers are becoming more receptive to AI-powered and immersive shopping experiences. AI is moving closer to the consumer, particularly when it can make product discovery, evaluation and gifting more engaging. For brands, AI is creating new opportunities to combine product launches with richer creative experiences. As gifting habits continue to evolve, technology is becoming an increasingly important part of how gifts are presented, considered and experienced.
Aug 18, 2026|
202 Coffees in an Hour: 7Fresh Coffee Opens Its First 24-Hour Robotic Shop in Beijing, Sets Guinness World Record
On August 16, 7Fresh Coffee, JD.com’s freshly made beverage brand, has opened its first 24-hour smart robotic shop at Galaxy SOHO in Beijing, and it’s already breaking records.
Filter this: At the opening, the shop’s automated barista robot ground out 202 cups of coffee in one hour, setting a new Guinness World Record for the “Most Cups of Coffee Served by a Robot Barista in One Hour.” Holy Espresso!!
The new shop brings together automated coffee preparation and digital ordering to offer customers a fast, consistent and highly customizable coffee experience around the clock. Coffee-o’clock is now 24/7!
From grinding beans and extracting espresso to flavor mixing and cup dispensing, the preparation process is automated, with a single drink completed in under 30 seconds in normal operations.
Customers can order through the JD.com App or in-store self-service screens, and watch their drinks being prepared on screens inside the store. They can also customize coffee strength and sweetness to their preference, offering greater choice while maintaining consistency in every cup. Hasta Barista, Baby!
Behind the experience, the shop integrates JD.com’s AI model with embodied AI technology from its robotics technology partners. 7Fresh Coffee also applies AI to flavour development and personalized recommendations, combining data insights with product expertise to test flavor profiles, explore new recipes and better understand consumer preferences.
The opening attracted both local customers and international visitors curious to experience the new format, while a 24-hour livestream from the shop also sparked discussion online.
For 7Fresh Coffee, the Guinness World Record goes beyond speed. It demonstrates how automation, AI-supported product development and consumer insights can come together to make everyday coffee service faster, more consistent and more personalized, while giving customers greater choice and convenience around the clock.
When Shenzhen Sleeps, Autonomous Delivery Keeps Movin
