{"id":4275,"date":"2026-02-24T16:26:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T15:26:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lome.legal\/how-can-a-european-company-legally-use-chinese-robots-and-artificial-intelligence-ai\/"},"modified":"2026-08-31T15:12:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T13:12:10","slug":"how-can-a-european-company-legally-use-chinese-robots-and-artificial-intelligence-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lome.legal\/en\/how-can-a-european-company-legally-use-chinese-robots-and-artificial-intelligence-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"How can a European company legally use Chinese robots and artificial intelligence (AI)?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By 2026, it will no longer be just startups or global players that are using robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) in their business operations. More and more European companies are adopting robotics- and AI-based solutions. They are using them in their manufacturing, logistics, and infrastructure. Many of these solutions\u2014especially robotic ones\u2014come from China. How can they be used in compliance with EU law? How can risks be mitigated, these solutions certified, and ensured that they are safe not only for the company but also for the users of its goods and services?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Chinese technologies are very popular in Europe. It\u2019s no wonder. They attract entrepreneurs with their price, scalability, and the fact that they can be quickly implemented within their organizations. At the same time, they continue to raise constant questions about the certification of robotic solutions and their compliance with EU regulations. Most entrepreneurs do not understand the extent of their liability for these solutions. And in our opinion, it is high time to gain this awareness.<\/p>\n\n

The need to write this article arose from our observation that business owners often lack awareness; they\u2014often dazzled by the possibilities of new technologies\u2014forget that this is more than just a technical solution. Read on to find out what companies in Europe (including those in Poland) should consider before implementing robots and AI systems from China. We\u2019ll take a look at the legal landscape, compliance, and regulatory safety.<\/p>\n\n

China is currently the world leader in robotics and AI<\/h2>\n\n

It is common knowledge that in recent years, China has become one of the most important\u2014if not the most important\u2014players in the global robotics market. Robots are being deployed on a massive scale in China\u2014across the full range of their capabilities. These include industrial robots, autonomous logistics systems, and Physical AI solutions. Thanks to massive government support for innovative companies, technology in China is not in the testing phase; instead, solutions are being tested in real-world business processes. This is the source of China\u2019s enormous advantage over other countries, which have different models for developing innovation and bringing it to market.<\/p>\n\n

Although not everyone has realized it yet, this approach also has a huge impact on European companies. First and foremost, it gives them access to robotics technology at competitive prices. Because robotic solutions are tested in China under real-world business conditions, the processes based on these technologies can then be automated much more quickly in the companies that purchase them. Finally, Chinese solutions have for years been viewed as an alternative to more expensive\u2014though perhaps even safer\u2014Western solutions.<\/p>\n\n

As a result, the question is being asked more and more loudly: Do robots and AI-based solutions from China meet the certification and regulatory requirements in force in the European Union?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

\"Certification<\/figure>\n\n

Where in the EU are robots from China most commonly deployed?<\/h2>\n\n

Chinese robots in Europe are already operating across a wide range of industries. They support industrial production\u2014for example, they are used on assembly lines and in quality control processes. In logistics and warehousing, they are used as AMR robots or for automated order fulfillment. They are present in ports and transportation infrastructure<\/a>. They support the energy sector and help maintain technical infrastructure. They are found in distribution centers and, increasingly, in e-commerce.<\/p>\n\n

Contrary to popular belief, it\u2019s not that automation simply eliminates human labor. It\u2019s about something else. In practice, automation increasingly means reorganizing processes. Not all companies go through this process without suffering losses, but all of them must adapt to new approaches to process management when implementing automation.<\/p>\n\n

Robot Certification in the EU \u2013 Basic Principles<\/h2>\n\n

One of the common mistakes made by companies using Chinese robots and solutions based on Chinese artificial intelligence is treating them as a technological curiosity or a tool to be implemented. However, we need to pause here. This is because robots and automation systems must undergo certification in the European Union. Experience shows that European companies all too often downplay this issue.<\/p>\n\n

Under EU law, such a robot is considered a machine or an assembly of machines, and if it uses decision-making algorithms, it is also considered an AI-based system. This, in turn, means that before a company can begin using it to provide services within the EU, it must meet certain legal and technical requirements.<\/p>\n\n