Shandong Proposes Integrating Embodied AI and Hiking Robots in Tourism Plan
Shandong province released its 15th Five-Year Plan for tourism development, proposing the integration of embodied AI in scenic areas by supporting the deployment of hiking assistance robots and AI-driven tour guides. This policy highlights a growing trend of regional governments leveraging advanced technologies like robotics and AI to transform traditional tourism, potentially creating new market demands for smart hardware. The plan also suggests building AI itinerary assistants, deploying digital human guides, and using generative AI and 3D printing to innovate cultural and creative product design.
## BACKGROUND
Embodied AI refers to AI systems equipped with physical bodies—such as robots or exoskeletons—that can interact with and understand the physical world through sensors and actuators. Hiking assistance robots, like lightweight wearable exoskeleton devices recently trialed on Mount Tai, help users reduce fatigue during physical climbs using ergonomic designs and AI perception algorithms.