Robots, AI, space and quantum computers are trending at VivaTech

(17 Jun 2026) ASSOCIATED PRESS Paris - 17 June 2026 1. Various of Unitree R1 humanoid AI robot making boxing moves, as demonstrated at Unitree’s booth at the VivaTech technology fair 2. Various of Unitree AS2 robotic dogs and H2 and R1 humanoid robots being demonstrated at Unitree’s booth 3. SOUNDBITE (English) François Bitouzet, Managing Director at Viva Technology: “This year, of course, (at VivaTech 2026) AI will be the superstar, but a different kind of AI. It will be about concrete application. People, they don’t want to be talking about what will happen in 20, 30 years. Now they want to understand what it will change in banking, in insurance, in health, in retail, automotive and this is exactly what they will see at VivaTech. Thirty business sectors coming with new ways to produce, new ways to sell, new ways to work, thanks to AI and this is completely new this year.” 4. Various of IBM’s quantum chandelier on show at VivaTech 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jerry Chow, Chief Technology Officer for Quantum at IBM: “So what we’re looking at here is an IBM quantum computer and what you have here is actually the inner workings of what it actually looks like. There are quantum processing units in here much like you might have heard about, CPUs and GPUs, these are now quantum processing units that rely on entirely different math to allow us to process entirely different things. And what we’re seeing here is actually called a dilution refrigerator. It’s used to cool down these quantum processing units to really, really low temperatures, colder than outer space, down to about 15 millikelvin (-258.15 degrees celsius).” 6. Various of IBM’s quantum chandelier on show at VivaTech 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jerry Chow, Chief Technology Officer for Quantum at IBM: “By building these machines, on one hand there’s the whole technological element of getting something working, getting something that’s really pushing the levels of physics to do this kind of computing, but also it’s beautiful technology. When you see something like this coming together, you see the shining metal, what we call the chandelier here, it really holds a special place for me, it’s almost a form of art that we can build this technology and bring it to life and yet have it look beautiful.” 8. Various of an interactive educational gaming game for children designed by KMOOVE being demonstrated as attendees and a costume-wearing character aim soft balls at a projected screen 9. Various of Microsoft’s stand at VivaTech 10. Various of large artwork display on vast screens at Samsung’s booth 11. Close of attendee taking video on mobile phone at Samsung booth 12. Various of Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone and Galaxy Ultra smart watches on display 13. Various of Samsung employee opening AI smart fridge, browsing food items, then closing to operate its large touchscreen which can form a shopping list of items 14. Various of startup companies present at AWS startup booth 15. Close of AWS and NVIDIA logos at AWS startup booth 16. SOUNDBITE (English) François Bitouzet, Managing Director at Viva Technology: “Last year Nvidia came with GTC which is their famous event, and unfortunately this year it was not possible (to have them back at VivaTech) but they are everywhere because in each booth you will see people talking about chipsets, they are talking about NVIDIA and I think it’s also part of what is happening. Last year it was about AI from a technological point of view and now it’s about AI from a concrete point of view and from a political point of view.” 19. Various of India’s startup village at VivaTech Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...