China Accelerates Humanoid Robot Push to Reshape Manufacturing
China is rapidly positioning itself as a global leader in humanoid robotics, with significant advancements in both hardware and AI-driven software, as reported by Reuters.
The country’s push is not only about creating robots for entertainment, as seen in their impressive feats like somersaults and playing football, but also about building the foundation for a new industrial revolution powered by humanoid robots.
These robots aim to replace human workers in repetitive, dangerous, or labor-intensive tasks, making them a pivotal part of China's future economic strategy.
Government Support and Investments
The Chinese government has shown strong backing for this sector, with over $20 billion allocated to humanoid robotics in 2024 alone. The government has also established a one trillion yuan ($137 billion) fund to support AI and robotics startups.
This initiative is part of China's broader strategy to foster technological innovation and reduce dependency on foreign manufacturing technologies, particularly amidst trade tensions with the US. In addition to financial backing, state procurement of humanoid robots has surged, with purchases growing from just 4.7 million yuan in 2023 to 214 million yuan in 2024.
Robotics for Manufacturing and More
Reuters reports that China is rapidly advancing in humanoid robotics, aiming to transform its manufacturing sector, which employs over 123 million people. These robots, equipped with AI models like DeepSeek, are being developed for tasks such as quality inspection and assembly. With 90% of components made domestically, China now leads the global market, unveiling 36 humanoid models in 2024, far outpacing the US.
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AI and Humanoid Robots: The Role of Data
According to Reuters, creating AI for humanoid robots needs huge quantities of task-specific data. To facilitate this, the Chinese government has invested in centers such as AgiBot's in Shanghai, where humans and robots collaborate to gather high-quality data. This is necessary to train AI models that allow robots to function autonomously in real-world settings.
Humanoid robots are increasingly being implemented in China, posing job displacement risks, which may impact up to 70% of manufacturing employees. As a response, the government is proposing an AI unemployment insurance program.
In spite of these dangers, robots are also seen as a solution for labor shortages, particularly in the care for the elderly. In the future, humanoid robots will assume important roles in industries such as healthcare and logistics with revolutionary effects on society and the economy.
