Dancing humanoid robots took center stage Monday at China Broadcasting Corporation's annual Lunar New Year gala. Shown on China's most popular official TV show, the robots lunge and backflip (land on their knees), twist and jump.
© Still from the video
None of them fell. The scene is very impressive but also makes some people wonder: If robots can now dance and practice martial arts, what else can they do?
The Guardian writes: Experts are divided, with some saying the robot has limitations and that the program should be viewed through the lens of government propaganda.
Developed by several Chinese robotics companies, the robots perform a series of complex stunts, including kung fu, comedy skits and choreographed dance moves alongside humans.
Clips circulating online were quickly compared to last year's Lunar New Year broadcast, which also showed robots dancing but with significantly simpler movements.
Kyle Chan, a Washington-based expert on China's technology development, believes that Beijing is using these public robot demonstrations to “impress domestic and international audiences with China's technological might.”
“Unlike artificial intelligence models or industrial machinery, humanoid robots are clear examples of China's technological leadership that the public can see on their phones or TVs,” he said.
Pointing to the growing competition in the tech space between China and the US, Chan added: “While China and the US are equal in artificial intelligence, humanoid robotics is an area where China can take the lead over the US, especially in terms of expanding production.”
George Stieler, head of robotics and automation at global consulting firm Stieler Technology and Marketing, also emphasized the symbolism of the primetime broadcast in China: “What set the gala apart from similar events elsewhere was the rapidity of the transition from industrial policy to primetime spectacle.”
Comparing this year's performance to last year's, when audiences witnessed an “essentially unified choreography” with limited movements including walking, twisting and kicking, Stiller said one of the key signs of Chinese robots' progress is “the ability to synchronously control large numbers of nearly identical humanoids, with stable gait and consistent cooperative behavior.”
But Stiller also notes, “Performance on stage does not equate to reliability in production.” He said robots have performed routine tasks “hundreds or thousands of times – you can't just ask them to change direction or do something completely different”.
“These dance movements largely do not involve environmental awareness and are essentially imitation training plus controllers for balance. This has little impact on reliability in unstructured environments, which is a prerequisite for use in factory settings. Additionally, dexterity development does not occur as rapidly as with locomotion,” he added.
The Guardian points out that the introduction of the latest generation of robots in China underlines the country's broader technological ambitions. According to government data, by the end of 2024, China had 451,700 registered intelligent robotics companies with a total capital of 6.44 trillion yuan (about 932.16 billion USD). Major government projects such as Made in China 2025 and the 14th Five-Year Plan have made robotics and artificial intelligence a top priority for Beijing.
Morgan Stanley forecasts sales of humanoid robots in China will more than double to 28,000 by 2026, and Elon Musk said he expected his biggest competitors would be Chinese companies as he set Tesla's sights on developing artificial intelligence and its flagship humanoid robot, Optimus. “People outside of China underestimate China, but China is a new level of trickster,” Musk said last month.
Marina Zhang, a technology professor at the University of Technology Sydney, said the demonstration could point to a new phase in China's manufacturing process, “where robots are becoming the backbone of the transition from low-cost assembly to high-end smart manufacturing”.
