May 15, 2025
In a Shanghai suburb, Chinese startup AgiBot operates a data-collection facility where humanoid robots perform repetitive tasks like folding clothes and making sandwiches. Running 17 hours a day, the site generates training data to improve robot performance. Chinese authorities are heavily supporting the sector, investing over $20 billion in the past year and offering subsidies, free office space, and creating robotics funds across cities like Shenzhen and Beijing. President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to AgiBot highlighted the strategic value China places on humanoid robotics amid trade tensions, population decline, and a push for economic growth. Developers like MagicLab and Unitree are also entering production, focusing on integrating AI models such as DeepSeek and Alibaba’s Qwen to enhance robotic “brains.”
China’s edge lies in its ability to produce up to 90% of humanoid hardware components, making robots more affordable and accessible compared to global competitors. The cost of humanoids is expected to drop from $35,000 in 2024 to $17,000 by 2030. As humanoids expand into real-world applications—factories, elderly care, and repetitive or dangerous jobs—concerns about job displacement are rising. Lawmakers have discussed AI-related unemployment insurance, and some tech leaders are pushing for policies to address impacts on China’s 123 million manufacturing workers. Still, the government views humanoid robots as vital to maintaining its manufacturing dominance and addressing labor shortages, especially as the population ages.
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SOURCE: Technocracy News