China’s highly popular TV event, the annual CCTV Spring Festival gala, unveiled the nation’s advanced industrial strategy and Beijing’s drive to lead in humanoid robots and the future of manufacturing. At the gala, four emerging humanoid robot startups – Unitree Robotics, Galbot, Noetix, and MagicLab – showcased their innovations, capturing the attention of viewers akin to the Super Bowl in the U.S.
The gala’s initial segments prominently featured humanoid robots, including a martial arts display where over a dozen Unitree robots executed intricate fight sequences with swords, poles, and nunchucks in close proximity to human child performers. Notably, one sequence mimicked China’s “drunken boxing” style, showcasing advancements in multi-robot coordination and fault recovery capabilities.
Moreover, Bytedance’s AI chatbot Doubao and humanoid robots from Noetix and MagicLab played significant roles in comedic skits and synchronized dances with human actors during the gala. The buzz around China’s humanoid robot sector is escalating as key players like AgiBot and Unitree gear up for IPOs this year, coinciding with the release of cutting-edge models by domestic AI startups during the lucrative Lunar New Year holiday.
China’s emphasis on humanoid robots aligns with its AI+ manufacturing strategy, leveraging automation to offset challenges from an aging workforce. The country dominated the global humanoid robot market last year, accounting for 90% of the approximately 13,000 units shipped worldwide, surpassing U.S. competitors like Tesla’s Optimus. Morgan Stanley forecasts a significant increase in China’s humanoid robot sales to 28,000 units this year, reflecting the sector’s rapid growth.
Elon Musk has acknowledged China’s prowess in robotics, indicating that he views Chinese companies as formidable competitors as Tesla shifts focus towards embodied AI and its flagship humanoid, Optimus. The CCTV Spring Festival gala, known for spotlighting Beijing’s technological ambitions, serves as a platform for companies to gain government support, investor interest, and market opportunities, underlining China’s commitment to technological innovation and industrial advancement.