China’s humanoid robots have captivated the world. A rental market is exposing their limits

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Business Tech 8 min read

China’s humanoid robots have captivated the world. A rental market is exposing their limits

By John Liu, Fred He

PUBLISHED But his venture has also revealed what viral videos of dancing, flipping Chinese robots have not: the heavily promoted technology is still years away from replacing human labor, whether on a factory floor or in a household.

“The market for humanoid sales hasn’t really taken off yet because today’s robots still can’t operate on their own – they’re basically oversized toys,” he said.

Still, Beijing is betting billions of dollars on humanoid robots as a strategic technology that could increase productivity as economic growth slows and its workforce shrinks. Getting a leg up in the burgeoning industry could also help China pull ahead of the US and other rivals in artificial intelligence and advanced technology. Fred He

While this does not necessarily mean Chinese humanoid robots are ahead of the curve compared with Tesla’s Optimus, for example, it reflects a different approach in China: prioritizing early deployment and affordability to drive adoption, Zhang said.

This underscored the rapid development of the technology in China since Beijing first released a policy document focusing on humanoid robots in 2023, positioning them as the “next disruptive product” after computers, smartphones and electric vehicles.

“The rapid evolution of humanoid robot technology has made it the new high ground of technological competition, a fresh frontier for future industries, and a novel engine for economic growth,” the document said.