Four start-ups focused on the development and production of humanoid robots – Unitree Robotics, Galbot, Noetix, and MagicLab – showcased their products earlier this week at a gala evening during the Spring Festival, which takes place on New Year's Eve before the Chinese New Year. This is the most-watched television event in China, comparable to the Super Bowl in the United States.
The first three performances of the colorful program prominently featured humanoid robots, including a long martial arts demonstration. More than a dozen humanoids produced by Unitree Robotics performed sophisticated combat sequences, waving swords, sticks, and nunchucks. And they did so in close proximity to the performing children.
Between the martial arts sequences, there was also a technically ambitious demonstration reminiscent of the unsteady movements and backward falls of the Chinese martial art "drunken boxing" [which imitates the movements of a drunk person, ed. note]. It brought innovations in the coordination of multiple robots that can stand up even after falling.
The opening sketch of the program also featured Doubao, a chatbot with artificial intelligence from Bytedance, while four Noetix humanoid robots appeared alongside actors in a comedy sketch. MagicLab robots performed a synchronized dance with human artists during the song We Are Made in China.
Support from the president
The buzz around China's humanoid robot sector comes as major players in the industry, including Chinese companies AgiBot and Unitree, prepare for initial public offerings this year. In addition, several Chinese startups focused on artificial intelligence will launch a number of leading models during the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday.
During last year's gala, 16 human-sized robots from Unitree Robotics wowed the audience by twirling handkerchiefs and dancing in sync with the performers.
The founder of Unitree met with President Xi Jinping a few weeks ago at a major technology symposium, the first of its kind since 2018. Xi Jinping also met with five founders of robotics startups last year, which is comparable to previous meetings with leading entrepreneurs in the electric vehicle industry and businessmen in the semiconductor industry. The Chinese president is thus raising the profile of emerging technology sectors.
Last year's Spring Festival gala attracted the attention of up to 79 percent of Chinese viewers. Beijing has been using it for decades to highlight its technological ambitions, including its space program, drones, and robotics, said Georg Stieler, executive director for Asia and head of robotics and automation at technology consulting firm Stieler.
"What sets the gala apart from other comparable events is the directness of the transition from industrial policy to spectacular prime-time broadcasting," he said. "Companies that appear on the gala stage will reap tangible rewards in the form of government orders, but also investor attention and market access."
"It's only been a year, and the leap in performance is remarkable," Stieler commented, adding that the impressive control of the robots' movements demonstrates Unitree's focus on developing robotic "brains"—software with artificial intelligence. This enables them to perform fine motor tasks that can be used in real factory environments.
Replacing an aging workforce
Behind the presentation of robots running marathons or performing kung fu kicks and backflips lies a well-thought-out Chinese strategy that has placed robotics and artificial intelligence at the center of its attention. The country of the dragon is relying on increased productivity through automation to offset the pressures associated with an aging workforce.
"Humanoid robots combine many of China's strengths into one story: artificial intelligence capabilities, hardware supply chain, and manufacturing ambitions. They are also the most visible shaping factor for the public and officials," said Beijing-based technology analyst Pcho-e Zhao.
According to research firm Omdia, China accounted for 90 percent of the approximately 13,000 humanoid robots shipped worldwide last year, significantly more than its American competitors, including Tesla's Optimus.
Morgan Stanley predicts that sales of humanoids in China will more than double this year to 28,000 units. Elon Musk has said that he considers Chinese companies to be his biggest competitors, as Tesla focuses on embodied artificial intelligence and its flagship product, the Optimus humanoid. "People outside China underestimate it, but China is on a completely different level," Musk said last month.
(reuters, im)