From Dancing Robots to Robotic Monks: China’s Humanoid Revolution Takes Center Stage
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In a scene straight out of a futuristic novel, humanoid robots are taking center stage in China, prompting us to ask:
Do androids dream of economic spotlight?
While these mechanical marvels may not yet be ready to perform every household chore from cooking dinner to writing your emails (sorry, Mom), rapid technological advances promise a bright future for these machines—even in fields as sensitive as elder care.
Consider this: more than 20 robotic monks, meticulously manufactured by Shanghai Qingbao Engine Robot, are set to begin delivering sermons at a temple in India later this year.
Picture them: serene faces framed by orange robes, sitting cross-legged in the traditional Buddhist lotus posture, preaching wisdom in a way no human monk has ever done before.
This unprecedented move marks the world’s first instance of robots assuming a spiritual role, engaging the public in ways that were previously confined to science fiction. And while some may wonder if these androids have a hidden agenda to convert us all to a new religion of digital enlightenment, it’s hard not to marvel at their potential.
Shanghai Qingbao, a company that also supplies robots for cultural tourism and convention roles, is one among thousands of players in the booming humanoid robot race. This arena has become one of the world’s hottest commercial and technological fields, attracting heavyweight innovators like Tesla, Nvidia, Xiaomi, and Xpeng.
From Tesla’s Optimus trotting along factory floors to Chinese firm Unitree Robotics sending its latest football-playing robot onto a pitch, the spectrum of applications is as broad as it is impressive.
Just last week, 16 humanoid robots from Hangzhou-based Unitree stole the show at China’s Spring Festival Gala—the world’s most-watched TV event on Lunar New Year’s Eve—dazzling audiences with dynamic, synchronized dance moves. With one viral post featuring Unitree founder Wang Xingxing alongside these robotic performers, he quickly amassed 18,000 followers and 15,000 likes on his new RedNote account. It seems that when robots dance, the internet just can’t help but join in.
The public response to these developments has been nothing short of enthusiastic. Social media feeds are abuzz with comments like “I need a robot for elder care,” and “Forget having kids—save millions and buy a robot for retirement, instead.” Such reactions highlight the growing demand for domestic humanoid robots in China, as well as the public’s willingness to embrace technology that can offer both utility and a bit of quirky charm.
Despite their current limitations, experts agree that we are rapidly entering the age of humanoid robots. Their initial strides were made on car factory floors, where both Chinese and international robotics companies honed their craft in the automotive industry. Tesla’s Optimus has been busy on production lines, while Chinese firms like UBTech have introduced their Walker S model to NIO’s factories in Hefei, Anhui province.
Additionally, Figure AI, backed by Nvidia, is set to begin training its robots in BMW factories later this year. Most of these robots are currently deployed in industrial settings such as logistics and manufacturing, or in research and education. In the service sector, they are still mostly confined to guided tours and cultural tourism, where their presence serves as a powerful tool to attract visitors and boost engagement.
Of course, the ambitions don’t stop there. Countries are racing to develop humanoid robots for military applications, though large-scale deployment is still a distant prospect. Robots are being tested for high-risk tasks—from reconnaissance and battlefield support to disaster response—leveraging their ability to mimic human movement and decision-making.
The United States is already ahead with Boston Dynamics’ Atlas and SAFFiR, a firefighting robot designed for the US Navy. Beyond Earth, humanoid robots have also ventured into space, with the US, Japan, and Russia deploying them on missions to navigate extreme environments and collect critical data.
Yet, for the average person, humanoid robots are still more of a spectacle than a daily helper. They are captivating on stage, as seen during the Spring Festival Gala, but tangible, hands-on applications in everyday tasks remain limited.
Many experts believe that true market disruption will occur only when these robots transition from novelty performances to consumer-facing applications. This year is widely predicted to be the watershed moment for mass production and global commercialization of humanoid robots.
A Goldman Sachs report from last year forecasts that the total market for humanoid robots will reach US$38 billion by 2035—a more than sixfold increase from previous projections of US$6 billion—with robot shipments expected to quadruple to 1.4 million units.
A 40 percent reduction in production costs could render factory applications economically viable by 2027, with consumer applications following from 2028 to 2031. Imagine every household owning a humanoid robot, just as they now own cars or multiple smartphones—an idea that, if not utterly absurd, certainly sparks the imagination.
Xu Xuecheng, of the Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre, provides a glimpse into the potential affordability of these devices. For example, Unitree, which produces 70 percent of the world’s robotic dogs, has set the price for its most basic G1 humanoid robot at 99,000 yuan (around US$13,651).
Their recently unveiled football-playing robot, the G1-Comp prototype designed for competitions, has already been showcased running, kicking, and even scoring goals—a true testament to Chinese ingenuity in robotics.
However, Xu also cautions that only a handful of robotics companies are turning a profit, as razor-thin margins in hardware sales limit overall profitability. “Their customers’ expectations are clear, and they want to buy by the kilogram because the entire manufacturing supply chain is highly transparent,” he explains. The breakthrough lies in the intelligence a robot can offer—an area where consumers are willing to pay significantly higher premiums for emotional value and personalized interactions.
Speaking of dreams, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has predicted that there could be as many as 10 billion humanoid robots by 2040—two billion more than the current human population—and that demand could soar to 20 billion if the ratio of humanoid robots to humans exceeds 2:1.
But as advanced as these forecasts sound, current technology still falls short of producing a fully functional robot capable of seamlessly integrating into everyday life.
As Shanghai Qingbao Engine Robot chairman Wang Lei puts it, “Right now, it’s like a young child progressing through first, second, or third grade—capable of handling elementary tasks but not yet ready to write essays or create complex designs.”
Wang further noted that while his company has sold dozens of humanoid robots domestically and to markets in Cambodia and South Korea—primarily for cultural tourism and attention-grabbing displays in shopping malls and museums—they still need time to evolve. “The ultimate vision points to the elderly care sector as a field with boundless potential,” he said.
Considering there were 216.76 million people aged 65 and above in China at the end of 2023, accounting for 15.4 percent of the population, the economic implications are enormous.
If an elderly care robot is priced at around 50,000 yuan, and one in every 30 elderly people in a population of 300 million adopts the technology, the market could reach a staggering 500 billion yuan.
For context, Japan’s SoftBank once released its humanoid robot Pepper in 2014, priced at about US$1,790, which was initially celebrated for its ability to recognize basic emotions. However, Pepper’s limited functionality and disappointing sales led to its eventual production suspension.
This serves as a cautionary tale that while the potential for humanoid robots is vast, their road to mass-market viability is paved with technical and economic challenges.
Xu from the Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre underscores that the challenge isn’t simply making robots look human, but integrating complex technologies like chips, AI, software, and sensors into a cohesive, functional whole. And while we are on the cusp of a revolution, for now, humanoid robots remain in their early grades of development—more like precocious toddlers than fully functional adults.
As China catapults its humanoid robots from factory floors to temples and cultural landmarks, the future of robotics appears both promising and playful. With the potential to transform sectors ranging from industrial automation to elder care, these innovations herald a future where technology might not only serve us but also entertain us and perhaps even offer a bit of spiritual guidance.
Whether they eventually become indispensable household helpers or remain as fascinating curiosities is still up for debate—but one thing is clear: the age of humanoid robots is upon us, and it’s bound to be as disruptive as it is delightful. So, next time you see a robotic monk delivering a sermon or a dancing robot at a museum, just remember: the future is here, and so is the sermon