
The world’s most watched TV show had dancing robots
Ubtech’s Walker performed in China’s Spring Festival Gala

The variety extravaganza, airing on state network CCTV every Chinese New Year’s Eve, draws hundreds of millions of viewers. This year around, between patriotic musicals and acrobat spectacles, six Walker robots moved to the beat alongside human dancers in a two-minute performance.
Right now, the Walker can grab you a can of Pringles, fetch you an umbrella, or take your bag once you get home. It’s equipped with facial recognition so that it knows it was you who asked for booze, not your young daughter. It can also control smart home appliances.
But the big question remains: How relevant are these robots for regular consumers -- and are they useful enough to justify the price tag?
You know what? I can probably fetch my own beer for now.
The virtual assistant in this SUV is a holographic anime girl
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For more insights into China tech, sign up for our tech newsletters, subscribe to our Inside China Tech podcast, and download the comprehensive 2019 China Internet Report. Also roam China Tech City, an award-winning interactive digital map at our sister site Abacus.
