What’s Driving the Push for Humanoid Robots—With James Vincent - The Nation
# Log In Skip to content Skip to footer ###### Sections ###### The Nation ###### Current Issue Podcast / Tech Won’t Save Us / Feb 23, 2026 # What’s Driving the Push for Humanoid Robots—With James Vincent Paris Marx and James Vincent discuss why we’re seeing...
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China is accelerating its humanoid‑robot agenda, with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology labeling humanoids a “disruptive product” and setting breakthrough targets for AI brains, motion‑control systems, dexterous limbs and mass‑produced platforms through 2025‑2027. By the end of 2024 the country had registered more than 451,000 intelligent‑robotics firms, a 19.4 percent year‑on‑year rise, and plans to expand real‑world use in manufacturing, logistics, medical care and high‑risk operations. Chinese manufacturers are showcasing that momentum at Automation World in Seoul, where leading developers such as AGIBOT, Fourier, Huawei, Leju and Unitree will demonstrate next‑generation models—including AGIBOT’s X2 and G2, Unitree’s G1 and Leju’s Kuavo‑4 series—while outlining commercial roadmaps and global expansion plans. In the consumer arena, Honor unveiled its first AI‑powered humanoid at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, impressing the audience with a moonwalk, a backflip and a live dance alongside human performers, and positioning the robot for shopping assistance, workplace inspections and companionship. Meanwhile, HD Hyundai Samho announced a serious rollout plan for humanoid assistants in its shipyard, aiming for an initial deployment in 2027 after trials with its own robot division and partners such as Neura Robotics and LG CNS. U.S. startup Foundation is also targeting 50,000 units by the end of 2027, and Hyundai’s Boston Dynamics unit expects to ship up to 30,000 Atlas factory‑use robots annually by 2028, highlighting a global race to move humanoids from demos to large‑scale production.
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What’s Driving the Push for Humanoid Robots—With James Vincent
Paris Marx and James Vincent discuss why we’re seeing humanoid robots everywhere, the motivations to pursue an all-purpose robot, and the social implications of achieving it.
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Paris Marx is joined by James Vincent to discuss why we’re seeing humanoid robots everywhere, the motivations to pursue an all-purpose robot, how close we are to achieving that goal, and the social implications if we were to achieve it. byThe Nation Magazine
Paris Marx is joined by James Vincent to discuss why we’re seeing humanoid robots everywhere, the motivations to pursue an all-purpose robot, how close we are to achieving that goal, and the social implications if we were to achieve it.
James Vincent is a UK-based journalist and author of Beyond Measure: The Hidden History of Measurement from Cubits to Quantum Constants.
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What’s Driving the Push For Humanoid Robots w/ James Vincent | Tech Won’t Save Us
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