@guardian: An eye-catching martial arts performance during the annual China Media Group’s Spring Festival Gala had viewers and experts wondering what else humanoid robots can do. Developed by several Chinese robotics firms, dancing humanoid robots took centre stage performing lunges, backflips, spinning around and jumping. Not one fell over. The display was impressive, but prompted some to wonder: if robots can now dance and perform martial arts, what could come next? Experts have mixed opinions, with some saying the robots had limitations and that the display should be viewed through the lens of state propaganda. The clips drew comparisons with last year’s lunar new year broadcast, which also featured dancing robots but with noticeably simpler movements. The unveiling of China’s latest generation of robots underscores the country’s broader technological ambitions. By the end of 2024, China had registered 451,700 smart robotics companies, with a total capital of 6.44tn yuan (approximately $932.16bn), according to state data. Large government projects such as Made in China 2025 and the 14th Five-Year Plan have made robotics and AI central Beijing priorities. Morgan Stanley projects that China’s humanoid sales will more than double to 28,000 units in 2026, and Elon Musk has said he expects his biggest competitor to be Chinese companies as he pivots Tesla toward a focus on embodied AI and its robotic humanoid, Optimus. “People outside China underestimate China, but China is an ass-kicker next level,” Musk said last month. Marina Zhang, a technology professor at the University of Technology Sydney, said that such a visible showcase likely hints at a new phase in China’s manufacturing masterplan “where robotics becomes a linchpin in the shift from low-cost assembly to high-end, smart manufacturing”. To read in-depth about the future of China’s robotics, follow the link in bio for our explainer. #robots #china

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Wednesday 18 February 2026 16:00:00 GMT