In Shanghai, China, the rise of humanoid robots marks a significant chapter in the nation’s commitment to integrating artificial intelligence into everyday life. This initiative is a cornerstone of China’s latest five-year plan, which emphasizes the development of embodied AI—technology that operates within physical systems. Notably, Chinese manufacturers dominated the global market last year, producing nearly 90% of the 13,000 two-armed, two-legged robots delivered worldwide.
Recently, a robot carnival hosted by an R&D center on the outskirts of Shanghai attracted families eager to engage with cutting-edge technology. Children, like an excited 11-year-old showcasing his new robotic dog, exemplified the event’s vibrant atmosphere. The carnival is set in a hub that boasts over 100 companies specializing in robotic research, development, and manufacturing, with many showcasing robots designed for practical purposes, such as heavy lifting and infrastructure inspection. However, the carnival primarily served as an interactive exhibition, allowing attendees to witness various robotic demonstrations up close. Activities ranged from teaching kids to program a quadrupedal robot to navigate stairs, to thrilling water battles between remote-controlled robots, much to the delight of the onlookers.
This hands-on exposure is crucial for fostering public interest in robotics, a sector where Chinese firms are swiftly advancing. As highlighted by Yang Duan, a product manager at DexForce, humanoid robots are being developed to alleviate mundane tasks, with some even demonstrating coffee-making capabilities. Despite global skepticism surrounding the practicality of humanoid designs—due to safety concerns, high costs, and limited battery life—China’s robotics industry is undeterred. Events like the carnival not only showcase the latest innovations but also enhance the public’s familiarity with robotics. Across various Chinese cities, humanoids are performing in shopping malls and even competing in half-marathons, reflecting the growing acceptance and enthusiasm for robotic technology. The carnival culminated in an enthusiastic performance featuring humanoids showcasing martial arts and acrobatics, leaving the audience clamoring for more, demonstrating a promising future for robotics in daily life.
Source: I spent a day at a robot “carnival” in Shanghai. Here’s what I saw. via MIT Technology Review