China has captured the world's attention in humanoid advancements, challenging the dominance of traditional players like the US, Japan and Korea. Bloomberg Tech: Asia's Annabelle Droulers reports on how China has built an industry so big, and so fast.

Beijing

China is positioning itself at the forefront of the humanoid robotics industry, supported by government initiatives, advances in artificial intelligence, and a strong manufacturing base. Analysts predict that China will have the highest number of humanoids in use worldwide by 2050, as the country leverages these strengths to accelerate development and deployment.

While current sales are primarily to universities and research institutions, companies like Unitree are exploring commercialisation through technology and entertainment applications. Despite the potential for humanoids to become cost-effective alternatives to human workers by 2035, experts note that household adoption remains a distant goal. The rapid growth has also sparked concerns about overcapacity and the sustainability of the current industry boom.

Getting in the ring with a Chinese robot boxer

It's very likely that human robots are going to be robots that we can deploy into the world relatively easily. From labs in Shenzhen to workshops in Silicon Valley, humanoids are stepping out of science fiction and into our reality. The race is on to dominate the next era in robotics, with companies in Asia and the US vying to take the lead. China is seen as a frontrunner, with Morgan Stanley saying the country will have the highest number of humanoids in use worldwide by 2050. It's the result of many years of government support, advancements in AI and a strong manufacturing base that gives it more than a helping hand. The market is poised for explosive growth, with the International Federation of Robotics noting two primary reasons for its rise. A chronic lack of workers, combined with ageing labour forces in developed nations. Yet sales channels are fairly limited so far, with universities and research institutions currently some of the biggest buyers. This might seem like just a gimmick, but the humanoid companies in China, like Unitree, are blending tech and entertainment as seen as a serious path toward commercialisation. Ultimately the goal is to bring humanoids into households, with varying estimates for how long that might take. I think maybe three or five years, home robots can do the common things in my home. We are still a bit far from that, because as you can see right now, the robots cannot perform as in the movies that we are used to seeing. It may be decades before humanoids are a common sight in our homes. On the factory floor though, it's already becoming a reality. Bloomberg Intelligence says improving battery life and efficiency gains in humanoid robots could make them virtually as cost effective as human workers by 2035. That sort of potential is creating intense competition, particularly in China, where concerns are already growing about overcapacity. We have a humanoid robot frenzy here. Everybody is trying to break into the space. I think probably a lot of these companies are not going to exist in the five years down the road. The question is whether this level of interest in humanoids is unhealthy, or the right way for the industry to develop. Annabelle Droolers, Bloomberg News, Hong Kong.

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