China’s humanoid robotics industry is bustling. More than 14,500 automatons were delivered last year worldwide, up from around 3,000 in 2024, according to company reports and estimates from Omdia, a research firm.

Galbot's humanoid robot G1 passes a bottle of water to actor Shen Teng. Photo: Screenshot from CCTV 2026 Spring Festival Gala

MirrorMe Technology's Bolt became the fastest running humanoid robot demonstrated outside computer simulations when it reached a top speed of 22 mph.

China’s birth rate has hit a historic low – deepening fears of a major economic shock in the decades to come as the country’s massive labor force dwindles and its population of pension-drawing retirees swells.