Chinese robot makers ready for Lunar New Year entertainment spotlight - Reuters
"When robots begin to understand Lunar New Year and begin to have a sense of humour, the human-computer interaction may come faster than we think," Ma Hongyun, a photographer and writer with 4.8 million followers on Weibo, said in a post.
Key takeaways
Humanoid robots have moved from laboratory demos to commercial pilots in early 2026, with several high‑profile announcements converging at CES 2026 and across the global market. At the show, Boston Dynamics unveiled a production‑ready version of its Atlas platform and revealed a partnership with DeepMind’s Gemini Robotics AI to boost perception and task execution, while Hyundai, its parent company, pledged to manufacture up to 30 000 units annually by 2028 and to field Atlas in high‑precision sequencing by that year. In parallel, Figure AI’s Figure 02 units have already completed 10‑hour shifts on BMW’s X3 line, supporting 30 000 vehicles and handling 90 000 sheet‑metal parts, and the company secured a billion‑dollar Series C round in September 2025. Tesla’s Optimus remains in an early R&D phase, with training at the Austin Gigafactory still limited to simple tasks. Funding momentum has accelerated dramatically: Apptronik raised $520 million in a valuation‑exceeding‑$5 billion round that includes Google, B Capital, Mercedes‑Benz and the Qatar Investment Authority, positioning the company to mass‑produce its Apollo humanoid at an estimated $80 000 per unit and to target $1 billion in orders by 2027. The same funding wave placed Apptronik among the top three globally funded humanoid firms, alongside Figure AI, after a separate $935 million raise reported in February 2026. Chinese makers are showcasing humanoids as entertainment stars for the Lunar New Year, with Unitree, Agibot, Galbot, Noetix and MagicLab performing on CCTV’s gala and preparing IPOs, while Unitree’s 16‑robot dance troupe from the 2025 gala attracted millions of viewers. New design directions are also emerging. Fauna Robotics introduced Sprout, a compact, safety‑first humanoid built for homes, schools and retail, emphasizing natural movement and trust in human‑shared spaces. Meanwhile, Boston Dynamics demonstrated Atlas performing a backflip combined with a cartwheel, underscoring rapid advances in dynamic locomotion. Finally, researchers at NUS and SMART reported a neural‑blueprint that endows soft‑robotic systems with human‑like intelligence, a breakthrough that could extend to future humanoid platforms for more adaptable, real‑world operation.
"When robots begin to understand Lunar New Year and begin to have a sense of humour, the human-computer interaction may come faster than we think," Ma Hongyun, a photographer and writer with 4.8 million followers on Weibo, said in a post.
Agibot, which says its humanoid robots are designed for a range of applications, including in education, entertainment and factories, plans to launch an initial public offering in Hong Kong, Reuters has reported.
State-run Securities Times said Agibot had opted out of the CCTV gala in order to focus spending on research and development. The company did not respond to a request for comment.
The company demonstrated two of its robots to Xi during a visit in April last year. A squad of 16 full-size humanoids from Unitree joined human dancers in performing at China Central Television's 2025 gala, drawing stunned accolades from millions of viewers.
Less than three weeks later, Unitree's founder was invited to a high-profile symposium chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Hangzhou-based robotics firm has since been preparing for a potential initial public offering.
This year's CCTV gala will include participation by four humanoid robot startups, Unitree, Galbot, Noetix and MagicLab, the companies and broadcaster have said.
Agibot's gala employed over 200 robots. It was streamed on social media platforms RedNote, Sina Weibo, TikTok and its Chinese version Douyin. Chinese-language television networks HTTV and iCiTi TV also broadcast the performance. Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv
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Chinese robot makers ready for Lunar New Year entertainment spotlight
By Reuters
Summary Companies
Agibot streams robot-powered performance Four robot makers to participate in Spring Festival gala Dance skills show preluded Unitree's rise
BEIJING, Feb 8 (Reuters) - In China, humanoid robots are serving as Lunar New Year entertainment, with their manufacturers pitching their song-and-dance skills to the general public as well as potential customers, investors and government officials.
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