A gigantic number of human-like robots. Elon Musk: China will take the lead

“Tesla founder Elon Musk fears that China will soon take over the global lead in humanoid robots. Government-backed startups from the country could dominate the coming boom in AI robots.

In China, companies creating humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence are mushrooming after the rain. Startups such as EngineAI, Unitree Robotics and X-Humanoid are already showing off robots that can learn. For now, they are learning to dance at shows, but this is just a spectacle and the beginning of a boom in advanced machines resembling humans.

China is overtaking the US in creating humanoids

According to Bloomberg, after years of dominance by American companies - such as Boston Dynamics - in the development of humanoid robots, Chinese startups are starting to push the boundaries of innovation.

China, which already has a higher density of robots on production lines than the US or Japan, is preparing its humanoid robots for increasingly complex tasks. EngineAI, Unitree and other companies are testing machines to sort garbage, deliver medicine to nursing homes, patrol streets with police and guide tourists through museums. According to local media, some robots are also being discreetly tested for military purposes.

Zhao Tongyang, founder and CEO of EngineAI, estimates that 50-60 companies are currently working on developing humanoid robots in China, taking advantage of its manufacturing advantage and strong state support. Thanks to AI models, the machines learn on their own, without the need for tedious programming of each function. The company reports that it has already received orders for hundreds of its robots.

Chinese start-ups have caught the attention of Elon Musk, whose company Tesla intends to dominate the humanoid market. At a conference in April, the billionaire admitted that although his Optimus robots outperform the competition in terms of performance, he fears that China could dominate the entire industry. "I'm a little worried that places 2 to 10 on the podium will be taken by Chinese companies," he said.

Where are humanoids used? Massive investments China

Citigroup predicts that by 2050, the market for humanoids and related services will reach $7 trillion, and there will be 648 million such machines in operation worldwide.

Apart from the financial aspects, the development of humanoids carries strategic consequences - whoever masters them may have at their disposal an army of ever-ready workers, caregivers and soldiers, which will completely change the economic and political balance. China's advantage in this field is not accidental. More than a decade ago, President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party outlined strategic plans for the development of key technologies, including robotics - Bloomberg reminds. Local officials have offered financial support to entrepreneurs to achieve Beijing's goals. EngineAI has received support not only financial from the Shenzhen government.

In 2024, China announced an investment of 1 trillion yuan ($138 billion) in the development of robotics and new technologies over the next 20 years - much more than the US or Europe.

 

American companies are still giants in the field of robotics. Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics, Figure AI and Tesla are pioneers who have made technological breakthroughs. However, some experts warn that China's approach may give it an advantage in strategic, capital-intensive sectors - similar to what happened with electric cars or solar panels.

 

"The Chinese model of state capitalism may prove to be better adapted," believes Julian Mueller-Kaler from the Washington think tank Stimson Center. "Digital and technological progress are today's geopolitical issues of the highest importance," he added.

 

Humanoid robots are already entering production plants. The Shenzhen-based company UBTech introduced its Walker S1 robot to assemble iPhones for Foxconn. More than 500 of its machines work in car factories of BYD, Geely and FAW-Volkswagen. Leju Robotics, another company from Shenzhen, is implementing humanoids to sort medicines in nursing homes. At least 100 of its machines have been delivered to car manufacturers, exhibitions and universities.

 

According to analysts, within 5 to 10 years humanoids will be widely used in industry, even though they currently do not make economic sense for most companies and individuals because they are too expensive. In its report, Citi predicts that humanoids will be the fastest growing segment of the robot market.

 

Because they are designed like humans, they will be able to function in existing infrastructure without major changes.”