Dancing humanoid robots took centre stage on Monday during the annual China Media Group's Spring Festival Gala, China's most-watched official television broadcast. They lunged, backflipped, spun around and jumped without falling, impressing viewers but also prompting questions about their broader capabilities.
Experts have mixed opinions on the display. Kyle Chan of the Brookings Institution said Beijing uses such performances to 'dazzle domestic and international audiences with China's technological prowess'. He noted that humanoid robots are highly visible examples of China's technological leadership, particularly as competition with the US intensifies.
Georg Stieler, a robotics expert, highlighted the symbolism of the prime-time broadcast but cautioned that stage performance does not equate to industrial robustness. He explained that the robots were trained for a routine hundreds or thousands of times and lack environmental perception, limiting their reliability in unstructured environments.
The robots were developed by several Chinese firms and performed intricate stunts including kung fu and comedy sketches. Clips online drew comparisons with last year's broadcast, which featured simpler movements. By the end of 2024, China had registered 451,700 smart robotics companies, according to state data.
Morgan Stanley projects China's humanoid sales will more than double to 28,000 units in 2026. Elon Musk has said he expects his biggest competitor to be Chinese companies as Tesla focuses on its Optimus humanoid. Marina Zhang of the University of Technology Sydney said the showcase hints at a new phase in China's manufacturing masterplan, with robotics becoming a linchpin in the shift to high-end smart manufacturing.
