Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Beijing Warns of Humanoid Robot Bubble, Moves to Boost R&D and Set Market Rules

Officials cite more than 150 look‑alike ventures, with testing infrastructure plus entry–exit standards intended to steer investment toward real applications.

Overview

  • China’s National Development and Reform Commission cautioned that a surge of similar humanoid prototypes risks diverting talent from substantive research, according to spokeswoman Li Chao.
  • Policy signals include expanded funding for core R&D and the creation of national facilities for testing and training robots to improve measurable capabilities.
  • Regulators plan formal market entry and exit rules and support for consolidation and resource sharing to curb low‑quality duplication and overcapacity.
  • Investor interest remains strong, with the Solactive China Humanoid Robotics Index up nearly 30% this year and UBTech shares rising more than 4% on Friday.
  • The boom followed Unitree’s high‑profile Spring Festival Gala performance, even as large‑scale household or factory deployment is still viewed as years away.