The most popular bots at the conference looked and acted like humans, down to their gestures and facial expressions. Robo-pets were another big hit. For example, the robotic MarsCat uses artificial intelligence to mimic lifelike behaviors, like playing, stretching, and purring when petted. Coming across these and other advanced robots in everyday life isn’t a far-off idea, says Li Boyang, co-founder of robotics company EX Robot. “Robots will be human partners in the future.”