Liang Liang, deputy director at the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, emphasized that humanoid robots are designed to assist human workers, not replace them.

These robots aim to boost productivity and take on hazardous tasks, including deep-sea and space exploration, while humans rest.

At X-Humanoid, a state-backed robotics center in Beijing, robots are being developed to self-correct in dynamic environments.

A recent demonstration showed a robot completing tasks despite obstacles, showcasing its adaptability.

Last month, Beijing hosted the world’s first robot half-marathon, with humanoid robots running on a separate track, illustrating coexistence between humans and robots.

X-Humanoid’s Tiangong Ultra won the race and the center continues developing robots for precise and adaptable tasks.

🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ China’s robotics push follows centuries of automation innovation

Today’s comments from Beijing officials reflect a modern chapter in China’s long historical relationship with automated machines.

Chinese innovation in this space dates back to the West Zhou Dynasty (1066BC-771BC) when a craftsman named Yanshi created what historians consider one of the first humanoid automatons1.

This connection to China’s innovation legacy helps explain why the government is investing heavily in humanoid robots as part of its broader “China Dream” technology initiative2.

Beijing has systematically built its current position as the world’s largest market for industrial robots, surpassing former leader Japan through strategic investments in AI and robotics technology2.

The recent robotics half-marathon mentioned in the article represents a public demonstration of China’s robotics capabilities, showcasing their progress while emphasizing the government’s narrative about human-robot cooperation.

2️⃣ Research contradicts official optimism about robot employment impact

The Beijing official’s claim that robots “won’t make people unemployed” contrasts with multiple research findings about automation’s actual labor market effects.