https://www.scmp.com/rss/519763/feed Discover how China is becoming a global leader in robotics, integrating automation into industries and daily life. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Iris Deng Iris Deng Shares of Hong Kong-listed UBTech jumped after the robotics firm reported a surge in 2025 revenue, driven by an explosive 23-fold rise in humanoid robot sales as China’s robotics sector moves into large-scale production. Revenue from full-size embodied intelligent humanoid robots and related services reached 820 million yuan (US$119 million) last year, making it UBTech’s largest business line. That marked a 2,203 per cent increase from a low base of 35.6 million yuan in 2024, according to... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348635/ubtech-surges-leaps-and-bounds-humanoid-robot-sales-jump-23-fold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348635/ubtech-surges-leaps-and-bounds-humanoid-robot-sales-jump-23-fold?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:59:28 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow A “ChatGPT moment” for China’s humanoid robots – the tipping point at which the technology becomes widely usable – remains years away as persistent challenges in adapting to new tasks and training efficiency continue to hold back the industry, leading experts said on Wednesday at the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan. Despite rapid advances in recent years, humanoid robots were still far from large-scale deployment, with both hardware and software limitations yet to be fully resolved, panellists... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347864/why-chinas-humanoid-robots-are-still-waiting-their-chatgpt-moment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347864/why-chinas-humanoid-robots-are-still-waiting-their-chatgpt-moment?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:15:07 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng China’s industrial robot production accelerated in the first two months of the year, according to government data, amid Beijing’s policy support and industry efforts to promote wider adoption. China produced 143,608 industrial robots in January and February, an increase of 31 per cent from the same period last year, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday. The growth outpaced the 27 per cent increase in the same period last year, when production totalled 91,088... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346775/chinas-industrial-robot-output-accelerates-factories-ramp-deployment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3346775/chinas-industrial-robot-output-accelerates-factories-ramp-deployment?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:30:11 +0000 Coco Feng,Mia Nurmamat,Ann Cao Coco Feng,Mia Nurmamat,Ann Cao China’s policymakers want the digital economy to account for 12.5 per cent of gross domestic product by 2030, as Beijing accelerates its push to build a modern industrial system anchored in advanced manufacturing. The goal represents a significant increase from the 10.5 per cent share achieved in 2025, which was announced on Thursday during the annual “two sessions” parliamentary meetings and exceeded the initial target. A large part of China’s digital economy – activities facilitated by data,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345611/china-bets-ai-manufacturing-integration-narrow-digital-economy-gap-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345611/china-bets-ai-manufacturing-integration-narrow-digital-economy-gap-us?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Wency Chen,Ann Cao Wency Chen,Ann Cao China’s tech leaders, including Xiaomi’s Lei Jun, 360 Security Technology’s Zhou Hongyi and Xpeng’s He Xiaopeng, have put forward policy proposals ahead of the “two sessions”, as Beijing seeks to accelerate development in strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence and robotics. The executives aim to promote the industrial use of humanoid robots, speed up the deployment of AI agents and expand computing infrastructure – areas increasingly viewed as key battlegrounds in the global... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3345372/chinas-tech-leaders-urge-faster-ai-humanoid-robot-adoption-two-sessions-proposals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3345372/chinas-tech-leaders-urge-faster-ai-humanoid-robot-adoption-two-sessions-proposals?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 06:37:05 +0000 Jianlu Bi Jianlu Bi On the eve of the Chinese New Year, the Spring Festival Gala, one of the world’s most-watched television broadcasts, delivered more than just festive entertainment. It served as a high-definition manifesto of China’s “embodied AI” supremacy. International observers, from Reuters to El Pais, watched as humanoid robots from start-ups such as Unitree performed complex martial arts, backflips and synchronised dances. As Beijing-based tech analyst Poe Zhao noted, these humanoids represent the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344742/how-us-ceded-robotics-economy-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344742/how-us-ceded-robotics-economy-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Eunice Xu,He Huifeng Eunice Xu,He Huifeng Tech giant Xiaomi has tested self-developed humanoid robots for car production, as the company pushes forward with plans to deploy “a large number” of self-developed humanoid robots in its own factories over the next five years, company founder Lei Jun has said. Lei, also Xiaomi’s CEO and chairman, shared an article on Monday about trial operations in the firm’s car production facility, where the robots were said to have operated autonomously for three continuous hours, successfully completing... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345263/xiaomi-deploy-large-number-humanoid-robots-its-factories-within-5-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345263/xiaomi-deploy-large-number-humanoid-robots-its-factories-within-5-years?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:16:22 +0000 Ji Siqi,Coco Feng,Xinyi Wu Ji Siqi,Coco Feng,Xinyi Wu On a day typically considered one of the happiest on the calendar for Chinese workers – the eve of Chinese New Year, when families gather for dinner in the midst of an extended public holiday – the annual Spring Festival Gala, the world’s most-watched television programme, left some in the viewing audience with a sense of profound disillusionment. As a troupe of humanoid robots break-danced, flipped, swung swords and performed comedy sketches at the gala, domestic AI brands occupied the show’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344920/iron-rice-bowl-vs-algorithm-why-chinas-economy-may-better-withstand-ai-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344920/iron-rice-bowl-vs-algorithm-why-chinas-economy-may-better-withstand-ai-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 22:00:19 +0000 Zongshuai Fan Zongshuai Fan Against the news of China’s record trade surplus of US$1.19 trillion last year, some have warned it is making trade impossible, arguing that the rest of the world has fewer goods they can sell, or are willing to sell, to China. Critics point to China’s competitive edge in producing better and cheaper goods. For Beijing, this feels less like criticism and more like a subtle compliment. In many ways, it affirms China’s long-term strategy to bolster its global manufacturing. Supporting... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344508/how-little-giants-help-china-defend-its-manufacturing-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344508/how-little-giants-help-china-defend-its-manufacturing-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Gerui Wang Gerui Wang The 2026 Spring Festival Gala, one of the world’s most-watched television events, featured a dazzling array of humanoid robots. They performed martial arts, executed intricate sword dances and even took part in a comedy skit alongside human celebrities. While parts of the world still view humanoid robots with a mixture of fear and suspicion, as potential job-stealers or sci-fi villains, China is increasingly embracing them as partners in work, entertainment and daily life. Amid the escalating... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344083/humans-vs-robots-china-begs-disagree?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3344083/humans-vs-robots-china-begs-disagree?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 21:30:09 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow China’s Unitree Robotics plans to ship as many as 20,000 humanoid robots this year, up from about 5,500 in 2025, according to chief executive Wang Xingxing, after the company drew global attention with its appearance at Monday night’s Spring Festival Gala. Speaking to domestic tech outlet 36Kr after the show, Wang said global humanoid robot shipments could reach “tens of thousands” this year, with Unitree accounting for roughly 10,000 to 20,000 units of that total. The projection follows another... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3343825/kung-fu-somersaults-and-scale-unitree-eyes-20000-robot-output-2026-after-gala?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3343825/kung-fu-somersaults-and-scale-unitree-eyes-20000-robot-output-2026-after-gala?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 09:32:46 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu Chinese robotics firms continue to secure fresh financing, including from state-backed funds, as investors shift focus from hardware to the “brains” of humanoids – the software and operating systems that underpin their intelligence. Alongside hardware-centric companies like Unitree Robotics, a new wave of firms is emerging with capital directed towards robotic software and operating systems. Shenzhen-based humanoid robot maker LimX Dynamics announced on Monday the completion of its US$200... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3342246/funding-surge-powers-chinese-robotics-firms-focus-shifts-humanoid-brains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3342246/funding-surge-powers-chinese-robotics-firms-focus-shifts-humanoid-brains?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:00:38 +0000 Ni Tao Ni Tao Hangzhou’s space industry got off to a flying start in 2026. On January 7, China’s leading private rocket firm Space Epoch broke ground on a medium-to-large liquid rocket assembly, testing and reuse facility in Hangzhou’s Qiantang district. Basing this in the port city allows the rockets to be transported by sea to launch areas in the East China Sea and recovered the same way. Logistics alone do not explain the decision. Space Epoch is plugging into an industrial ecosystem Hangzhou has been... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3341303/how-hangzhous-tech-ecosystem-nurtures-dragons-and-rockets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3341303/how-hangzhous-tech-ecosystem-nurtures-dragons-and-rockets?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu China’s Eyou Robot Technology has launched the world’s first automated production line for robot joints, positioning itself to capture growth ahead of a projected surge in humanoid robot shipments. The plant, based in Pudong, Shanghai, opened last Wednesday with an annual capacity of 100,000 units, with scope to triple output. Founded in 2018, Eyou supplies domestic humanoid robot makers, including industry leader AgiBot. The company achieved mass production of its products in 2023, with annual... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3341229/chinas-eyou-opens-worlds-first-automated-line-humanoid-robot-joints?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3341229/chinas-eyou-opens-worlds-first-automated-line-humanoid-robot-joints?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:00:14 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li China aims to make breakthroughs in artificial intelligence chips, accelerate 6G development and establish key benchmarks for humanoid robotics, as the country kicks off its new five-year plan prioritising innovation as a key driver of economic growth. To promote the development of the AI industry, the government was targeting breakthroughs in core technologies such as training chips and heterogeneous computing, officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said at a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3340692/beijing-outlines-tech-push-focus-ai-6g-humanoid-robots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3340692/beijing-outlines-tech-push-focus-ai-6g-humanoid-robots?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 09:08:14 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Shenzhen is positioning itself for a bigger role in the global robotics arena after the city’s tech firms pledged to accelerate the roll-out of humanoid robots in line with Premier Li Qiang’s call to bolster industrial adoption of the technology. Li, during his trip to China’s southern tech hub, urged enterprises in emerging technologies – including robotics and drones – to speed up new iterations and upgrades so that more industries and households could benefit, according to Xinhua news... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3338938/shenzhen-poised-bigger-role-world-robotics-arena-firms-vow-boost-output?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3338938/shenzhen-poised-bigger-role-world-robotics-arena-firms-vow-boost-output?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 10:14:45 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng AgiBot, one of the fastest-growing robotics start-ups in China, has set its sights on exceeding 1 billion yuan (US$142 million) in revenue for 2025, as the industry accelerates the commercialisation and large-scale deployment of humanoid robots. AgiBot was expected to ship a total of 5,000 humanoid robots in 2025, chairman and CEO Deng Taihua said in a company event on Monday. AgiBot’s output and sales targets, which the start-up confirmed on Tuesday, were expected to maintain “multi-fold”... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3337477/chinas-agibot-targets-us142-million-revenue-march-humanoid-robots-gathers-pace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3337477/chinas-agibot-targets-us142-million-revenue-march-humanoid-robots-gathers-pace?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 23:00:12 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen A pale-grey, nearly one-metre-tall, four-legged robot drew crowds at Tokyo’s International Robot Exhibition, lowering itself down some steps before lifting its right foreleg as if to greet onlookers. It rolled around one of the exhibition halls on wheels, avoiding obstacles in its path. The quadruped, dubbed the D5, is the latest model unveiled on Wednesday by Chinese robot maker Pudu Robotics at IREX – a biennial industry showcase at Tokyo Big Sight from December 3 to 6. It is Pudu’s second... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3335381/chinas-pudu-robotics-rolls-out-overseas-charm-offensive-robot-dog?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3335381/chinas-pudu-robotics-rolls-out-overseas-charm-offensive-robot-dog?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Dec 2025 01:00:15 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat As China’s regions roll out proposals for their next five-year plans, two trends are emerging: localities are preparing to nurture new, highly technological industries while focusing on those sectors best suited to their strengths. Additionally, some areas pledged to bolster their supply of rare earth elements and soybeans, items which gained greater prominence amid this year’s escalatory trade war with the United States. According to data compiled by the Post, at least 22 provincial-level... https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3335363/chinas-regions-roll-out-5-year-plan-priorities-tech-topping-list?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3335363/chinas-regions-roll-out-5-year-plan-priorities-tech-topping-list?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 12:00:09 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao China’s Tsinghua University has set up a new cross-disciplinary institute to undertake robotics research, the latest sign of increased academic support from its top universities as the country doubles down on the embodied intelligence competition with the US. The Institute for Embodied Intelligence and Robotics will integrate resources from Tsinghua’s different schools, including automation, mechanical engineering, electronic engineering and computer science. Embodied intelligence is a field of... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3334952/chinas-tsinghua-university-sets-research-institute-latest-push-robotics-talent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3334952/chinas-tsinghua-university-sets-research-institute-latest-push-robotics-talent?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:00:25 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng China is building a talent pipeline for the booming robotics industry, with the country’s top universities launching undergraduate courses in embodied intelligence to support Beijing’s ambitions to overtake the US. Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Zhejiang University were among a batch of seven prestigious universities that had recently applied to add “embodied intelligence” as a new course, China’s education ministry said in November. The new programme was driven by the demands of a national... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3334779/top-chinese-universities-offer-courses-embodied-intelligence-aid-robotics-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3334779/top-chinese-universities-offer-courses-embodied-intelligence-aid-robotics-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Dec 2025 23:00:12 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Beijing has flagged risks of excessive duplication in China’s rapidly growing humanoid robot sector, vowing to strengthen guidance for an industry that officials have identified as an important engine of future growth. Driven by an influx of new capital, the number of humanoid robot companies in China has climbed to over 150 and is continuing to grow, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) spokeswoman Li Chao told a news conference in Beijing on Thursday. “More than half of them are... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334440/chinas-top-economic-planning-agency-warns-rise-too-many-robots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3334440/chinas-top-economic-planning-agency-warns-rise-too-many-robots?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 02:06:38 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen UBTech Robotics, one of China’s top robot manufacturers, said on Tuesday it had secured a major contract to deploy humanoids at border crossings to perform tasks such as guiding travellers, conducting inspections and handling logistics, as the country intensified efforts to apply robotics in the real world. The company has struck a 264 million yuan (US$37 million) deal with a humanoid robot centre in Fangchenggang, a coastal city in the southern autonomous region of Guangxi, which shares a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3334081/ubtech-wins-us37-million-deal-deploy-humanoid-robots-china-vietnam-border-crossings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3334081/ubtech-wins-us37-million-deal-deploy-humanoid-robots-china-vietnam-border-crossings?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 12:00:11 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) appointed Unitree Robotics founder Wang Xingxing and AgiBot co-founder Peng Zhihui to a national humanoid robotics committee, alongside other entrepreneurs and scholars. Wang and Peng – hailed as robotics’ “twin stars” – joined as vice-directors of the Standardisation Technical Committee for Humanoid Robots, which would be led by MIIT chief engineer Xie Shaofeng, according to an announcement on Monday. The committee’s 65 members... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3333964/unitree-agibot-founders-chinas-robotics-stars-join-panel-shape-industry-standards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3333964/unitree-agibot-founders-chinas-robotics-stars-join-panel-shape-industry-standards?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 01:00:16 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng China’s humanoid robot manufacturers on Friday took centre stage at the opening of the 27th China Hi-Tech Fair in Shenzhen, as the demand for these machines in enterprises gathers speed. The fair, which will run through Sunday, has put the spotlight this year on artificial intelligence and robotics innovation. With about a dozen of its products on display at this year’s event, Unitree Robotics drew one of the largest crowds on opening day, as it featured humanoid robots dancing and engaging in... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3332853/chinese-humanoid-robot-makers-seize-spotlight-shenzhens-annual-hi-tech-expo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3332853/chinese-humanoid-robot-makers-seize-spotlight-shenzhens-annual-hi-tech-expo?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Nov 2025 13:00:10 +0000 Massoud Amin Massoud Amin Power shifts begin in places most people never see – on assembly lines making batteries and robots, along transmission lines feeding data centre clusters, in local offices selling land and in labs training artificial intelligence models. The United States and China are using these quiet levers to construct different futures. The contest will be decided not by slogans but by who builds the most productive, trusted and durable infrastructure. Those choices will shape billions of lives. The global... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3330786/quiet-us-china-tech-contest-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3330786/quiet-us-china-tech-contest-future?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 21:30:09 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow When Alibaba Group Holding’s CEO Eddie Wu Yongming took the stage at the company’s annual Apsara conference in Hangzhou on September 24, few people expected the media-shy executive to deliver anything shocking, especially since he read from prepared statements at last year’s event. Wu, however, immediately outlined a clear road map for Alibaba’s AI development, with a goal towards so-called artificial superintelligence (ASI) – when the firm’s Qwen open-source models and cloud services would... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3328568/chinas-lesson-us-it-takes-more-chips-win-ai-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3328568/chinas-lesson-us-it-takes-more-chips-win-ai-race?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Oct 2025 04:00:13 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China’s factories welcomed 295,000 newly installed industrial robots last year, easing fears the nation’s manufacturing juggernaut could falter after the population declined for a third consecutive year. The robot boom in the rapidly ageing society is helping offset some of the challenges of a declining workforce and bolstering its manufacturing edge, which is set to sharpen further as humanoid technology matures, analysts said. China’s population has declined since 2022, with a decrease of 1.39... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327793/chinas-population-falls-300000-strong-robot-army-keeps-factories-humming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3327793/chinas-population-falls-300000-strong-robot-army-keeps-factories-humming?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 02:00:13 +0000 Tilly Zhang Tilly Zhang Regardless of how trade talks go, the US-China tech rivalry isn’t going away. From each side’s perspective, maintaining a lead in futuristic technologies matters significantly for economic growth and national power. Now, we’re entering round two. The first round was mostly defined by US export controls aimed at slowing China’s development of advanced technologies. These measures might have delayed Chinese progress, but they didn’t stop it. As China gradually catches up in chips and artificial... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3326936/consumers-will-decide-course-us-china-tech-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3326936/consumers-will-decide-course-us-china-tech-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 08:30:09 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Tesla has launched a new social media account on Weibo, China’s answer to X, to promote its artificial intelligence technology, a move that analysts view as a preliminary step towards introducing its humanoid robots in the country. The first two posts on the TeslaAI account, unveiled on Sunday, featured images and video of the Optimus robots in action. According to its introduction, the account will also showcase Tesla’s advances in autonomous driving, driverless ride-hailing and its Cortex... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3324837/tesla-targets-chinas-fast-growing-humanoid-robot-market-new-weibo-account?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3324837/tesla-targets-chinas-fast-growing-humanoid-robot-market-new-weibo-account?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 05:00:17 +0000 Bosco Hung,Nachiket Midha Bosco Hung,Nachiket Midha Since the launch of the Made in China 2025 plan a decade ago to foster industrial upgrading, it has been widely depicted in the West as a state-led market distortion and doomed to fail. Yet the outcome is far from failure. State-led efforts under the 10-year plan have provided a solid foundation for advancements, especially in the information technology realm. While exogenous shocks have caused significant disruptions, the plan has fostered self-sufficiency and contributed to China’s long-term... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3324068/chinas-10-year-industrial-plan-paving-way-tech-greatness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3324068/chinas-10-year-industrial-plan-paving-way-tech-greatness?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Sep 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Mandy Zuo,He Huifeng Mandy Zuo,He Huifeng A white metal robot trundling up and down a cotton field in Xinjiang represents the future of Chinese agriculture. The boxlike machine is the world’s first cotton-topping robot, automating the laborious and error-prone process of removing plants’ top buds to redirect nutrients towards lateral branches, boosting boll formation and yields. The experimental machine, unveiled in July, has achieved 98.9 per cent accuracy in bud detection and 82 per cent success in topping, development team leader... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3321549/farming-robots-help-china-feed-clothe-shrinking-population?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3321549/farming-robots-help-china-feed-clothe-shrinking-population?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 07:11:06 +0000 Hannah Wang Hannah Wang China opened what is touted as the world’s first full-service store dedicated to humanoid robots during the 2025 World Robot Conference (WRC) in Beijing on Friday, showcasing the latest consumer products and services from some of the nation’s leading manufacturers. Inspired by the 4S model used in car dealerships, the Robot Mall in Beijing’s E-Town integrates the core functions of sales, service, spare parts and surveys. It features more than 50 products from over 40 brands, including Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3321212/humanoid-haven-chinas-robot-store-showcases-home-grown-products-amid-government-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3321212/humanoid-haven-chinas-robot-store-showcases-home-grown-products-amid-government-push?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Aug 2025 09:00:07 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Deploying humanoid robots in the real world will be a gradual process, beginning with simple and repetitive tasks, while truly versatile humanoid robots remain a distant goal, according to Shanghai-based Keenon Robotics. Founded in 2010, Keenon has emerged as the world’s leading commercial service robot manufacturer, boasting a global shipment market share of nearly 23 per cent last year, according to the research firm IDC. The company said it had sold more than 100,000 robot units worldwide so... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3319728/back-basics-softbank-backed-keenon-robotics-takes-pragmatic-approach-humanoids?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3319728/back-basics-softbank-backed-keenon-robotics-takes-pragmatic-approach-humanoids?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Jul 2025 23:00:11 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma To spur the broader adoption of humanoid robots, China may be inclined to offer end-user subsidies as the industry rapidly evolves and the robots become more capable, according to a report by investment bank Morgan Stanley. The comments underscore a growing focus on the demand-side uptake of humanoid robotics. By comparison, most of the year-to-date government policies have focused on the supply side, such as funding for research and development, according to the report, published on... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3319103/china-bets-bots-humanoid-robot-sales-seen-gearing-adoption-push-very-likely?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3319103/china-bets-bots-humanoid-robot-sales-seen-gearing-adoption-push-very-likely?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 06:28:44 +0000 Xinyi Wu,Ji Siqi Xinyi Wu,Ji Siqi The founder of a prominent Chinese robotics start-up sees great value in working with American peers to advance the global development of humanoid robots – and his call for stronger collaboration between the fractious trade partners comes as China’s private sector is playing an increasingly larger role in innovation. “China has a deep foundation in manufacturing and hardware, while the United States possesses a rich AI software ecosystem,” said Wang Xingxing, founder and CEO of Hangzhou-based... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3318316/what-if-chinese-us-firms-make-humanoid-robots-together-tech-ceo-calls-collaboration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3318316/what-if-chinese-us-firms-make-humanoid-robots-together-tech-ceo-calls-collaboration?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jul 2025 11:30:08 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Unitree Robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) firm DeepSeek hosted Zhang Yuzhuo, director of China’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), during his tour of the two privately-owned start-ups on Thursday. As part of his two-day visit to east Zhejiang province, where the two companies are based, Zhang aimed to learn from the two companies about “how enterprises effectively gather innovative resources and stimulate vitality in the field of AI”, according to an... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3317707/deepseek-unitree-robotics-host-head-chinas-state-owned-firm-regulator-zhejiang-tour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3317707/deepseek-unitree-robotics-host-head-chinas-state-owned-firm-regulator-zhejiang-tour?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 11:00:08 +0000 Zhou Xin Zhou Xin It may seem far-fetched to suggest that China should consider implementing a universal basic income at this time, as authorities appear to be unenthusiastic about the idea. In the past, Chinese officials have rejected proposals to distribute cash to households, even when many families were clearly in need of support. But while the term universal basic income has yet to appear in any official Chinese policy documents, it may become less foreign in the coming years because of the increasing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3317193/ai-replaces-workers-china-could-consider-universal-basic-income?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3317193/ai-replaces-workers-china-could-consider-universal-basic-income?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 23:00:10 +0000 Simon S.H. Chan Simon S.H. Chan At the turn of the century, global innovation followed a Western script. Silicon Valley dominated the world in innovation. Europe exported standards and governance. Asia, in contrast, was cast as the manufacturer, assembler and consumer. But the global innovation order is shifting. According to the latest Edelman Trust Barometer, change is under way not only in technical capability but also in public sentiment. In China, 72 per cent of people trust artificial intelligence (AI), compared to 32... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3314964/china-offers-alternative-western-technofeudalism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3314964/china-offers-alternative-western-technofeudalism?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:30:07 +0000 Nora Mankel Nora Mankel A robotics laboratory at the National University of Defence Technology (NUDT) in central China’s Hunan province has developed a mosquito-sized drone for covert military operations. NUDT researchers showed their work on various types of robots – from humanoid machines to tiny drones barely visible to the eye – in a report aired on CCTV 7, China Central Television’s military channel, on the weekend. “Here in my hand is a mosquito-like type of robot. Miniature bionic robots like this one are... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3315206/chinese-military-robotics-lab-creates-mosquito-sized-microdrone-covert-operations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3315206/chinese-military-robotics-lab-creates-mosquito-sized-microdrone-covert-operations?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Jun 2025 08:01:07 +0000 Hannah Wang Hannah Wang China’s robotics market is set to grow at an annual rate of 23 per cent to US$108 billion by 2028 from US$47 billion in 2024, solidifying the country’s dominant position in the fast-developing sector, according to a research note published by Morgan Stanley on Monday. China’s share of the global robotics market was about 40 per cent last year, according to the report by Hong Kong-based analysts Sheng Zhong and Chelsea Wang. A specific forecast for China’s market share by 2028 was not... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3314611/chinas-robotics-market-set-double-2024-2028-morgan-stanley?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3314611/chinas-robotics-market-set-double-2024-2028-morgan-stanley?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Jun 2025 11:00:15 +0000 Zhou Xin Zhou Xin China’s five-year plan has evolved beyond a command-economy production schedule. It now represents a comprehensive vision for the country’s economic future, accompanied by strategies and policy guidelines. As Beijing’s planners draft the next five-year plan for 2026-2030, a general consensus is emerging: development and economic growth remain paramount. In particular, China is seizing the opportunity to bolster its “hard power” through manufacturing capabilities and advances in artificial... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3313692/ai-and-robotics-expected-play-big-role-chinas-next-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3313692/ai-and-robotics-expected-play-big-role-chinas-next-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Jun 2025 23:00:14 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen China has launched a pilot programme aimed at accelerating the deployment of robots to alleviate the pressure of elderly care, as the nation grapples with a rapidly ageing population and a labour shortage. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Affairs, issued a notice on Monday inviting organisations to participate in pilot projects. The initiative aims to enhance the integration of robotics into smart elderly care. The programme... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3313739/china-turns-robots-elderly-care-national-pilot-programme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3313739/china-turns-robots-elderly-care-national-pilot-programme?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Jun 2025 13:00:18 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang The Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence (BAAI), a non-profit research laboratory in China, launched on Friday a series of new open-source artificial intelligence (AI) models designed to be the “brain” of robots, as the country rushes to build smarter machines. The use of powerful AI models in China’s booming robotics industry could accelerate the development and adoption of humanoids, as the sector addresses challenges such as limited model capabilities and a lack of training data,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3313372/beijing-academy-unveils-open-source-robobrain-ai-model-chinas-humanoid-robots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3313372/beijing-academy-unveils-open-source-robobrain-ai-model-chinas-humanoid-robots?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jun 2025 23:00:10 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang In Inner Mongolia, a convoy of haul trucks rumbles across the dusty, jagged terrain of the Yimin open-pit coal mine. It is a familiar scene in this part of northern China, home to some of the country’s biggest mineral deposits, but a closer look reveals a futuristic twist to this age-old trade: the vehicles operate without drivers. Yimin is one of the five largest open-cast coal mines in China. During peak season, it used to require about 300 trucks, operated by around 1,200 drivers working... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3312442/future-mining-how-china-upgrading-traditional-industry-driverless-evs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3312442/future-mining-how-china-upgrading-traditional-industry-driverless-evs?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 May 2025 03:00:13 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng The municipal government of Zhuhai in southern Guangdong province has launched a new company as part of an ambitious programme to boost its artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics sectors, after the success of DeepSeek and Unitree Robotics sparked a national race to cultivate the next tech leaders. On Wednesday, the city announced its support for the newly established Zhuhai Technology Industry Group, focusing on AI and robotics. It also unveiled incentives for local businesses, including... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3312107/chinas-zhuhai-backs-new-tech-company-joining-shenzhen-race-be-ai-robotics-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3312107/chinas-zhuhai-backs-new-tech-company-joining-shenzhen-race-be-ai-robotics-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 May 2025 09:00:13 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Chinese robot firms, including leading companies such as Unitree Robotics and Engine AI, vied for attention at a technology conference in Macau this week, as enthusiasm around the industry continues to surge despite scepticism about their products’ capabilities. This year’s Beyond Expo, which runs from Wednesday to Saturday, featured more than 20 companies producing robots and related components, for use in tasks such as rehabilitation and coffee making. Shenzhen-based Engine AI showcased its... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3311583/chinese-robot-makers-led-unitree-dazzle-macaus-beyond-expo-amid-ai-boom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3311583/chinese-robot-makers-led-unitree-dazzle-macaus-beyond-expo-amid-ai-boom?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 May 2025 11:00:14 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng China’s southern technology hub of Shenzhen is ramping up support for hardware powered by artificial intelligence (AI), unveiling two new investment funds totalling 7 billion yuan (US$1 billion) to back start-ups in robotics and other smart devices. The funds – a 5 billion yuan vehicle and a separate 2 billion yuan pool – were announced on Thursday at the opening of the Global AI Terminal Expo 2025, a three-day event drawing more than 300 smart hardware exhibitors, according to the organisers.... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3311408/ai-hardware-start-ups-get-fresh-boost-shenzhen-launch-us1-billion-funds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3311408/ai-hardware-start-ups-get-fresh-boost-shenzhen-launch-us1-billion-funds?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 May 2025 23:00:07 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng The provincial government of Zhejiang, home to Alibaba Group Holding and DeepSeek, has released a comprehensive policy package to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) research, industrial growth and talent acquisition, in an effort to turn the region into a “global AI innovation development highland”. Under the plan, major companies in the AI supply chain – including those responsible for large language models, cloud computing and semiconductors – are expected to generate combined operating... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3311106/alibaba-and-deepseeks-home-province-launches-ai-spending-spree-become-innovation-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3311106/alibaba-and-deepseeks-home-province-launches-ai-spending-spree-become-innovation-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 May 2025 23:00:09 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao China’s production of industrial robots surged by more than 50 per cent in April compared with a year earlier, according to official data, highlighting the growing demand driven by a national frenzy for robotics. The national output of industrial robots jumped 51.5 per cent year on year to 71,547 units last month, according to the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday. The growth outpaced the 16.7 per cent increase seen in March and the 27 per cent growth recorded... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3310908/chinas-industrial-robot-output-soars-start-ups-unitree-and-ubtech-take-lead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3310908/chinas-industrial-robot-output-soars-start-ups-unitree-and-ubtech-take-lead?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 May 2025 09:00:30 +0000