Reference News Network, February 10 report: According to the website of the U.S. "Wall Street Journal" on February 7, for months, Elon Musk has been telling investors that Tesla's humanoid robot "Optimus" will revolutionize the world and create a new huge industry. But he warned that most of this industry may belong to China.

Musk said, "China is very strong, with higher level. As far as we know, we have not seen any significant (humanoid robot) competitors outside of China."

The report said that China is taking rapid action to try to lead the industry. From Shenzhen to Suzhou, more than 140 humanoid robot companies have been established, and the number is still increasing. Using a vast ecosystem of component suppliers and engineering talent, they have started mass-producing humanoid robots and actively introducing them into real-world scenarios such as factories, hotels, and offices.

The report said that the direction of the industry is set by the Chinese government, which has identified "embodied intelligence" as one of the key advanced technology fields to be developed in the next five years.

According to Morgan Stanley, since the end of 2024, cities such as Beijing and Shenzhen have established investment funds totaling over $26 billion, injecting capital into the industry.

Government agencies and state-owned enterprises have also become early adopters, deploying humanoid robots in museums and event venues. These deployments are helping companies build markets and collect data to make robots work better.

China's momentum has raised concerns among U.S. policymakers and tech leaders. Sources said that the White House has been considering an executive order aimed at promoting the development of the U.S. robotics industry.

One of the concerns in the U.S. is that many American robotics companies rely on China's supply chain.

China has a vast manufacturing supply chain capable of producing various basic components for humanoid robots. Chinese humanoid robot companies have the ability to procure large quantities of products locally, allowing them to easily make design changes at low cost, thus driving innovation.

Jonathan Ma (音), a representative of an industrial park in Singapore, said, "Although we have heard of U.S. robotics companies, they have not entered the market."

"Chinese companies have great products, and these are the only choices."

As more and more robot companies emerge, concerns about a bubble are growing.

To avoid the emergence of a bubble, the Chinese government is drafting a set of technical standards to guide the development of the humanoid robot industry, eliminate unqualified competitors, and accelerate its widespread application. At the end of last year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China established a standardization technical committee, whose members include representatives from leading enterprises and national laboratories.

Sources said that Chinese regulatory authorities have also strengthened oversight of robotics companies seeking to go public to reduce the risk of a bubble. (Translated by Feng Xue)

Original: toutiao.com/article/7605171766461268506/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.