MIT Tech Review: Shanghai's robot carnival and China's embodied future
nordicinst · x · 2026-08-25
MIT Technology Review reports from a robot "carnival" in Shanghai, noting that humanoid robots have become a popular form of public entertainment in China. Embedding AI into physical systems—embodied AI—is a key facet of China's latest five-year plan.
- Market Share: Nearly 90% of the over 13,000 two-armed, two-legged robots delivered globally last year were made in China.
- Scenes: The event featured robotic dogs doing handstands, tutorials on making quadrupeds climb stairs, and robot battles with water beads.
- Innovation Hub: The hosting R&D center houses over 100 companies working on robotic technologies, ranging from practical tasks like heavy transport and pipe inspection to today's entertainment demos.
The article highlights China's active ecosystem in embodied AI, spanning from entertainment to industrial manufacturing.
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