- Chinese tech firms showcased AI agent smartphones at the WAIC in 2026, highlighting advancements in voice technology.
- AI voice agents sound increasingly human, with users often unable to distinguish them from real people, according to Peng Bo, Cloopen's head of large-model products.
- Cloopen demonstrated a voice agent already deployed in a Chinese bank, making 20,000 calls daily and completing 94% without human operators.
- StepFun unveiled the StepAudio Voice Agent, utilizing a dual-model architecture for fast and complex tasks.
- AI-powered robocalls have become a top complaint in China's telecom sector, covering areas like debt collection and medical marketing.
- Analyst Fu Liang attributed the rise in robocalls to AI drastically reducing the cost of sales calls.
- Chinese regulators are cracking down: the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology shut down 1,438 unauthorized voice lines and 204 messaging ports in Q1 2026.
- Expert Hamza Boukili emphasized that safety boundaries must be built into AI agents from the start, not added later.
AI voice agents are revolutionizing telecommunications, as demonstrated at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, where over 1,100 companies showcased innovations. Cloopen's voice agent, operational in a Chinese bank, handles 20,000 calls daily, achieving a 94% completion rate without human intervention.23
However, the rise of AI-powered robocalls has sparked significant complaints, particularly in areas like debt collection and insurance sales. Telecom analyst Fu Liang noted that AI has drastically reduced the costs associated with sales calls, contributing to this surge in complaints.567
Regulatory bodies are responding; the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reported shutting down 1,438 unauthorized voice lines and taking action against 72 companies in the first quarter of 2026. Hamza Boukili, CEO of Yunsuan Technology, emphasized the importance of integrating safeguards into AI systems from the outset, stating, "In the end, it can't get past that. It has to stay inside the safety zone you set."89
As AI continues to evolve, the balance between innovation and regulation remains a critical challenge for the industry.
“Cloopen's voice agent, already deployed in a Chinese bank, places 20,000 calls daily and completes 94% without human operators. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology shut down 1,438 unauthorized voice lines and penalized 72 companies in Q1 2026.”
