A video, hundreds of humanoid robots, and a reaction that went viral. When UBtech demonstrated its S2 Walkers moving in unison in a Chinese warehouse, it was a stunning sight for many. These robots turned their heads and waved their arms in unison as they filed into containers: a visually stunning effect reminiscent of the sci-fi blockbuster “I, Robot.”
For others, however, it’s too perfect to be real. This has sparked a debate that goes far beyond the authenticity of a video: it concerns the speed with which China is transforming humanoid robotics from a laboratory experiment to a large-scale industry, challenging perceptions, prejudices, and established certainties in the West.
B rett Adcock, founder and CEO of the American robotics company Figure, found it hard to believe and immediately posted the video on social media, insinuating that it was computer-generated.
“Look at the reflection of this robot and then compare it to the one behind it. The robot in front is real, the one behind is fake,” Adcock reported. “If you see a head unit reflecting a bunch of lights on the ceiling, then it’s a computer-generated image.”
In response to Adcock’s post, UBTECH quickly posted a video shot with an FPV (first-person perspective) drone, along with the original audio, inviting skeptics to witness the robot performing these actions firsthand, with the caption: ” Is this really AI-generated? A one-shot revelation, with original audio and original speed!”
However, you can never wake someone who is “pretending to be asleep,” and Adcock still doesn’t believe it… On November 29, Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post reported that this is not an isolated case.
When the Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian first demonstrated its electromagnetic catapult system, U.S. military experts raised similar questions about its capabilities. In this context, assumptions based on past experience appear to have clouded their understanding of China’s current industrial realities.
“Many of the doubts stem from a poor understanding of China’s manufacturing capabilities and the advantages of our supply chain collaboration system,” Tan Min, Chief Brand Officer of UBTECH , responded directly: “Critics should come to China to see the thriving development of the humanoid robot industry firsthand and participate directly in the industrial chain.”
The South China Morning Post noted that this skepticism is somewhat understandable. Just a year ago, many robots were still learning to mimic human gait. Today, humanoid industrial robots are used in various sectors, including new energy vehicle manufacturing, 3C (computer, communications, and consumer electronics) smart manufacturing, and smart logistics.
Thanks to open-source collaboration, a tightly integrated supply chain, and rapid iteration of practical applications, China’s humanoid robot industry is developing rapidly.
“A robust open source strategy is one of the key factors in continuously improving our robots,” said Yao Qiyuan, co-founder of Shenzhen EngineAI, in an interview with Science and Technology Daily. “By distributing and training open source code, we attract global developers to jointly build an application ecosystem.”
Meanwhile, the Shenzhen government has further supported the development of the robotics industry by opening up public sector opportunities, such as inspection and fire protection, to provide “jobs” for robots.
Naturally, cost reduction is another key factor driving widespread adoption. In October this year, Beijing-based Noetix Robotics launched a humanoid robot priced under 10,000 yuan, aimed at hobbyists and programming training institutions. Just six months earlier, this robot had won second place in a humanoid robot half-marathon.
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