China's humanoids are dazzling the world. Who will buy them?

https://economist.com/business/2026/02/18/chinas-humanoids-are-dazzling-the-world-who-will-buy-them

by andsoitis • 5 months ago

3 3 5 months ago

They seemed agile and capable. But not a lot of interaction with humans. Not sure they perceived their environment beyond simple gymnastics. So what use?

31337Logic• 5 months ago

Agreed. While marvelous to watch, there's a big difference between "look at what I can do" and "let's move through the world together". I think it's just a matter of trust. I have no problem watching these perform in a public park or whatever, and admiring the awesome feat of engineering before me... I just don't want the damn things in my house, around my kids.

tim-tday• 5 months ago

The journalist fails to understand the strategy of humanoid robotics.

Current state of the art: a robot mounted to the floor in a factory can do one thing quickly and without error

Limitation: if you unbolt it from the floor it cannot move, reposition, walk. If it could (and could also do the previous thing) it’d be able to do any and all work in the world.

Phased solution: Phase one make robots that can move around (check) Phase two integrate specific tooling and job skills into those robots Phase three total world domination. Because your robot can do any and every job on earth.

https://archive.ph/HW5D1

China's humanoids are dazzling the world. Who will buy them?

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