China’s top economic planning authority has voiced concerns about unchecked expansion in the country’s rapidly growing humanoid robotics sector. Officials note that while innovation is being driven by a surge in startups and companies entering from other industries, there is a risk of oversaturation due to excessive replication of similar products. This could undermine research and development efforts by shrinking profit margins and encouraging short-term marketing tactics over genuine technological advancement. The concept of “embodied intelligence”—AI embedded in physical machines like robots—was formally recognized as a strategic industry in this year’s government work report. However, with numerous models being introduced at unusually low price points, experts warn of a potential bubble fueled by investor enthusiasm rather than sustainable progress.
— news from South China Morning Post
— News Original —
China’s top economic planning agency warns of rise of too many robots
Beijing has flagged risks of excessive duplication in China’s rapidly growing humanoid robot sector, vowing to strengthen guidance for an industry that officials have identified as an important engine of future growth. n n“More than half of them are start-ups or cross-industry entrants, which is a good thing for encouraging innovation,” Li said, while also emphasising the need to avoid having too many similar products flood the market and compress the space for research and development. n n“Speed and bubbles have always been issues that need to be grasped and balanced in the development of cutting-edge industries,” she said. n nThe Chinese government highlighted “embodied intelligence” – referring to artificial intelligence integrated into machinery such as robots – as a key future industry for the first time in the government work report delivered to the annual meeting of the National People’s Congress in March. n nWith many models hitting the market at eye-catchingly low prices, critics have raised concerns about a potential investment bubble spurred by marketing gimmicks designed to generate the hype needed to secure fresh capital.