Japanese media: China accelerates the commercialization of humanoid robots
Japan's Sankei News reported on February 14: China has set 2026 as the "first year of commercialization of humanoid robots," and companies are launching new businesses such as robot sales and leasing. The industry is actively responding to achieve a global society that "leads in artificial intelligence" and expand the use of AI-controlled robots.
In a shopping mall in the center of Beijing, there is a store selling humanoid robots and quadrupedal robots, which was opened at the end of last year by the robot manufacturer Unitree Robotics and the e-commerce giant JD.com. According to local media reports, the store displays and sells humanoid robots such as "G1," with prices starting from 85,000 yuan (about 1.9 million yen).
Additionally, the robot development company AgiBot launched a robot rental service in December of last year.
Minister Zhang Yunming of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China stated at a press conference at the end of last month that as of 2025, there were more than 140 humanoid robot manufacturers in China, with over 330 models of humanoid robots announced. New electric vehicle manufacturers, Xpeng Motors, and other industries have also entered the market successively.
China views artificial intelligence as a promising field and is further accelerating industrialization. The 14th Five-Year Plan, which will be reviewed at the National People's Congress on March 5, will include policies aimed at maintaining a leading position in the global "artificial intelligence industrial application" sector.
China's emphasis on artificial intelligence is to address the labor shortage it will face in the future, as well as its dominant position in emerging industries. This is because declining birth rates and an aging population continue to support the labor demand of "the world's factory."
Original: toutiao.com/article/1857186633974794/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.