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Reuters: China can build kung fu-fighting robots. But it can’t get them to do factory work
Factories are still waiting as Chinese firms expand robot training to gather data and close a gap that leaves humanoids slow and error-prone.
- China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology official Gan Xiaobin said in July the country expects to build more than 100,000 humanoids this year, though researchers warn the machines remain slow and error-prone for broad factory use.
- China established training centers like the one in Liuzhou, where human trainers guide robots through simple tasks to generate embodied-AI data. Research scientist Jia Baoxiong of the Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence noted that achieving "1 millimeter" precision remains a critical technical challenge.
- Government spending reached at least $230 million in the first half, fueling expansion while depressing prices. Sharebot chief marketing officer Kevin Li said dancing robots now rent for "$440 to $600 a day," down from roughly $1,500 last year.
- Investors predict consolidation could begin in late 2026 or 2027 as officials rein in subsidies. Lizzi Lee of the Asia Society Policy Institute said the strategy aims to "kick start the Hunger Games," an artificially hypercompetitive environment forcing out weaker players.
- Analysts expect China to maintain its global advantage even if bankruptcies sweep through manufacturers. The nation's supply chains will likely persist, potentially locking foreign competitors into dependence on Chinese hardware.
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5 Articles
5 Articles
China can build kung fu-fighting robots. But it can’t get them to do factory work
Government funding and manufacturing investment are racing ahead of the robots’ ability to operate beyond choreographed demonstrations – like the dances and boxing matches that have made humanoids internet sensations.
·London, United Kingdom
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Total News Sources5
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left, 50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left, 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 50%
C 50%
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