Humanoid Robots Enhanced by AI Set to Redefine Chinese Manufacturing
In the outskirts of Shanghai, inside a massive facility, rows of human-shaped robots are guided by technicians through repetitive activities—folding clothes, preparing snacks, and operating doorknobs. These machines are put through their paces for up to 17 hours each day.
The operation belongs to AgiBot, a Chinese startup dedicated to building humanoid robots that can transform daily life and work routines through artificial intelligence. The company’s aim is to amass large volumes of training data to enhance their robots’ capabilities.
“Just imagine that one day in our own robot factory, our robots are assembling themselves,” said Yao Maoqing, a partner at AgiBot.
China’s leadership has shown a strong interest in humanoid robotics as the country seeks long-term solutions to critical challenges like an aging workforce, slowing economic momentum, and rising tensions with the United States.
This commitment was highlighted when President Xi Jinping personally visited AgiBot’s Shanghai site last month. During the tour, he quipped that the robots might one day join a football team.
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China’s AI Strategy Powers the Next Leap in Robotics
Xi has also emphasized the role of private enterprises in revitalizing China’s economy. Earlier this year, he met with representatives from various companies, including Unitree, another leading Chinese humanoid robotics firm.
This comes as the U.S. and China continue negotiating tariffs initially implemented by President Donald Trump to encourage American manufacturing.
While some of these robots have already showcased remarkable physical skills—such as flipping, running long distances, and even playing sports—new developments are focusing on advancing their cognitive functions.
According to Reuters, which revealed new insights in this report, the next breakthrough lies in improving robot intelligence. This evolution is being fueled by the success of domestic tech firms like DeepSeek and significant backing from Chinese government initiatives.
Interviews conducted by Reuters with over a dozen individuals, including industry executives, investors, and analysts, reveal a shifting landscape.
They describe how the integration of powerful software with existing robotic designs is making it possible for these machines to become independent and productive members of the workforce.
What was once futuristic is now becoming reality. The emerging synergy between advanced robotics hardware and cutting-edge artificial intelligence could help China redefine its global manufacturing dominance—and potentially reshape how industries function around the world.
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