China’s humanoid robots have captivated the world. A rental market is exposing their limits
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Key takeaways
- The most recent headlines show a surge of activity across the humanoid‑robot sector.
- Apptronik, the $5.5 billion startup behind the Apollo line, has opened a “robot school” where legged and wheeled humanoids practice factory, service and home tasks under remote supervision, turning the facility into a data‑factory for AI training.
- In China, a new rental market for humanoid robots is highlighting their current limits—operators describe today’s machines as “oversized toys” that still require human oversight, even as Beijing pours billions into the technology to offset a shrinking workforce.
- European‑based AGIBOT unveiled its A3 humanoid in July and rolled out a robot‑as‑a‑service model in the UK, offering daily rentals starting at £1,999 and showcasing the robots in a retail venue in Milton Keynes.
- Genesis AI announced the Eno general‑purpose robot, positioning it as an “iPhone moment” for humanoids and backing it with a $105 million seed round; the design forgoes a conventional humanoid face in favor of a modular, wheeled platform.
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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.
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