Abstract: Embodiment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) fundamentally differs from human embodied cognition. Human cognition is grounded in the sensory-motor system of a biological body, forming a holistic entity that integrates consciousness, emotion, and action. In contrast, machine embodiment is achieved through the functional coupling of a physical carrier and an algorithmic model. A comparative analysis reveals that while AI cannot replicate the biological properties inherent to human cognition, it can simulate a functional“mind- body relationship”by creating an artificial perception-action loop. Nevertheless, the construction of effective machine bodies faces three primary challenges: morphological complexity, control complexity, and evolvability. Future research should therefore focus on resolving these fundamental issues by investigating the balanced interaction among the machine’s body, its information processing system, and the external environment to chart a clear path forward for machine-body engineering.

Key words: embodied AI, embodiment, mind-body relationship, perception-action loop