Embodied AI: Transforming Daily Life in China with Humanoid Workers and Surveillance Drones
The Rise of Robotics and AI in Shenzhen, China
A Day in Shenzhen’s Central Park
On a damp Saturday afternoon in Shenzhen’s Central Park, a group of teenage girls huddle under a concrete shelter, enjoying snacks and singing along to their favorite Mandopop tracks while sharing a couple of smartphones. Their cheerful laughter fills the air, suddenly interrupted by the buzzing sound of a drone delivering food. This scene is made possible by Meituan, a leading food delivery platform in China, which has installed over 40 "airdrop cabinets" throughout Shenzhen.
The Delivery Experience
The drones transport a variety of food orders, from rice noodles to desserts, straight from a shopping mall located just a few kilometers away. Each drone carries its load in a sealed box that can only be opened by entering the customer’s phone number. Although the delivery service aims to be 10% faster than human delivery, the food sometimes arrives slightly cold due to the flight. Nevertheless, it showcases the potential of drones in enhancing convenience.
The Push for Advanced Technology
The integration of drones into everyday life reflects China’s ambition to boost its robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) industries. Amid ongoing trade disputes and shrinking workforce issues, the Chinese government has prioritized tech advancements that promise military upgrades and economic growth. Recently, Chinese authorities have shifted to embracing technology firms, once viewed with skepticism, to stimulate innovation.
In March, Premier Li Qiang emphasized the importance of enhancing the digital economy, focusing on embodied AI. Guangdong province, where Shenzhen is located, recently allocated around 60 million yuan (about $6.4 million) for innovation hubs. Shenzhen has earned the reputation of being China’s drone capital due to its proactive regulatory approach that enables quicker development of the "low altitude economy." The Civil Aviation Administration of China predicts an impressive fivefold increase in the drone sector’s value, projected to reach 3.5 trillion yuan in the next ten years.
Humanoid Robots Gaining Popularity
China is not only exploring drone technology; humanoid robots have also emerged as a significant trend. The recent Spring Festival gala featured a dance performance by humanoid robots created by a company named Unitree, captivating an audience of nearly 17 billion. Moreover, a half marathon race was held, showcasing the competition between a human and a robot, marking a notable event in Beijing.
Rui Ma, a technology analyst from San Francisco, observes that developments in artificial intelligence have accelerated the capabilities of robots significantly. Advances like reinforcement learning allow robots to learn skills and tasks at a much faster rate than in the past. Toy robot dogs have already become a common sight in China, blending into everyday life.
The Evolving Robotics Landscape
The robotics industry in China closely ties to the progression of artificial intelligence. China aims to close the technological gap with the United States, especially in semiconductor and AI capabilities. The U.S. has imposed strict export controls that limit China’s access to advanced technology.
A breakthrough emerged earlier this year when DeepSeek, a new Chinese tech company, launched a large language reasoning model called R1, competing with top U.S. alternatives at a much lower cost. This creation sparked excitement in the Chinese tech community, suggesting that the U.S. might lose its tech industry lead.
Li Shuhao, a tech entrepreneur in Guangzhou, emphasizes that the DeepSeek instance has opened more avenues for collaboration among AI scientists. DeepSeek’s open-source approach has facilitated widespread adoption of its model and significantly impacted the robotics field.
The Robotics Supply Chain
The robotics supply chain is generally categorized into three areas: the brain (AI), the body (the physical robot), and practical applications. While China excels in producing physical components and assembling complex systems, it has historically struggled with creating sophisticated AI for robots. DeepSeek’s R1 model has shifted the landscape, providing local humanoid robotics companies a chance to catch up with global competitors.
Challenges remain, particularly in data availability for training AI models. Unlike language models that use vast internet content, robotic models require specialized data related to physical movement and interaction, which is harder to obtain.
For instance, while a car needs to navigate through six dimensions in space, a humanoid robot attempting to replicate human tasks requires even more—up to 60 degrees of freedom. However, robots can still fulfill valuable roles without being fully humanoid, such as performing hazardous or monotonous tasks in factories. With a declining workforce, automating these jobs is a priority for China.
Future Developments in Robotics
The Boao Forum for Asia featured a robotic arm capable of making jianbing, a famous Chinese pancake, further illustrating the practical uses of robotics. Surveillance has increased with autonomous vehicles patrolling parks in Beijing.
Despite setbacks, experts believe that robots won’t fully replace human labor. For instance, even with Baidu’s robot taxi services operating in select areas, challenges such as availability and customer service persist.
The Chinese government is keen on championing technology as a key driver of economic growth, especially as other industries face difficulties. Many believe this renewed focus on tech will help China attract investment and stimulate innovation, an essential step as the country seeks alternative revenue sources following the downturn in real estate.
