An unattended supermarket invented by Tmall.com is built during the 4th World Internet Conference underway in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province on Dec 3. [Photo by Xiang Wenjian/chinadaily.com.cn]

Deeper within the WIC's showpiece expo, the full gamut of artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual reality as well as the infinitesimal reach of the internet, is exposed.

The sheer scale of technology on show leaves me thinking that the "Light" in the expo's title "The Light of the Internet", is a reference to Greek mythology and the story of Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods so that we could light and warm ourselves in our caves. Except now we're in charge.

By far the best technological treat on show is from Tmall.com, who seem to have invented a supermarket with no people in it to annoy you and where you don't have to pay. Sadly, I'm informed that it is their "unattended supermarket" which, once you've scanned a QR code on entry, allows you to swipe what you like off the shelves and leave. When you pass through the exit your phone will be charged however.

If that is not enough to scramble your circuits, you should see what iFlytek has to offer. The Chinese tech company has developed a handheld device which looks like a modern twist on a Star Trek transponder that can interpret any known alien language in the galaxy. Okay, that last bit isn't true, but it is able to instantly (and I mean instantly) and accurately (I mean that too), translate your speech to Chinese, English, French, Korean, Japanese and Spanish. You'll never be caught short looking for a pharmacy in a foreign country ever again.