At a bustling R&D center on the outskirts of Shanghai, an 11-year-old boy watched his new mini robotic dog attempt a handstand. The toy was a gift from his mother, purchased at a robot 'carnival' held by the hub, which houses more than 100 companies researching, developing, and manufacturing robotic technologies. The event, described by MIT Technology Review reporter You Xiaoying, drew curious families eager to see the latest in Chinese robotics.
Children and parents alike engaged with a variety of machines: two staffers taught youngsters how to make a quadrupedal robot walk up stairs, while a remote-controlled battle between two robots firing water beads ended in a draw. Nearby, a humanoid robot from DexForce made coffee, and another pair of robotic arms attempted to fold a basket of T-shirts. "These machines can free people from physical work and mundane chores," said Yang Duan, a product manager at DexForce.
The carnival is a small window into China's broader strategy. The country's latest five-year plan explicitly includes embodied AI—embedding intelligence into physical systems—as a key facet. According to Forbes, nearly 90% of the more than 13,000 two-armed, two-legged robots delivered globally last year were made in China. Chinese companies like Unitree, Fourier Intelligence, and DexForce have become world leaders in humanoid production, though most models remain in early-stage deployment or demonstration.
While the event celebrated technological progress, it also highlighted the gap between showcase and widespread adoption. Many robots on display were still performing simple, controlled tasks, and the folding T-shirt robot struggled to complete its job. Observers note that cost, reliability, and safety remain significant hurdles before humanoids enter homes and factories at scale.
Critics also caution that the rapid push for humanoids could lead to job displacement, particularly in manufacturing and logistics, where China's workforce is already under pressure. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about the potential use of humanoid robots for surveillance, given the country's expansive social credit system. Meanwhile, Western governments are watching China's robotics ascent with unease, citing national security risks and the need for export controls on advanced AI hardware.
DexForce's Yang Duan acknowledged the long road ahead: "We are still in the early stages. The real challenge is making these robots reliable and affordable for everyday use." For now, the carnival served as a public relations exercise, building excitement and acceptance for a future where robots are part of daily life.