Facing pressure from a growing population and labor shortages, China is advancing its industry towards increasing reliance on robots.
The first attempt to create humanoid robots in China did not yield the expected results. The machine produced in 2000 by a research team at the National Defense University resembled a mobile oven with cartoonish eyes and a bulge resembling a cannon above its two legs. Named Xianxingzhe, this robot was even ridiculed by neighboring Japan, which had more aesthetically pleasing robots at that time.
The social robot iPal designed by AvatarMind. (Photo: Reuters).
However, China has persistently developed humanoid robots, according to The Economist. In November 2023, the Chinese government announced plans to mass-produce humanoid robots by 2025. Last year, about half of the industrial robots installed worldwide were assembled in China, according to the International Federation of Robotics. Currently, China ranks fifth in the world in terms of automation, based on the number of robots compared to the workforce. In the face of demographic challenges, China is striving to become a robotics superpower.
Many of the newly installed robots in China are programmable mechanical arms that can weld, drill, or assemble parts on production lines. However, in 2022, China also produced over 6 million service robots to assist humans with tasks outside of industrial automation. These machines move around warehouses, transport cargo, or clean in hotels. At a restaurant in Guangzhou, meals are cooked and served by robots.
The impressive economic development of China in recent decades is attributed to three main factors: urban workforce, capital investment, and productivity. However, the working-age population (ages 15-64) in China is gradually decreasing and is projected to drop by more than 20% by 2050. Earlier this year, the government released a list of 100 professions experiencing labor shortages, with manufacturing roles accounting for 41 of those positions.
The Chinese government recognizes the crucial role of robots in increasing productivity. For many years, they have shifted their industrial focus from labor-intensive practices to robot-intensive approaches. Provinces are spending billions of dollars to help manufacturers upgrade in this direction. The experiences during the pandemic have further solidified this pathway. While workers were weakened by Covid-19, robots do not have health concerns.
The average age of farmers in China is over 50, and very few young people are willing to work in the fields. Some countries facing similar issues often resort to importing food or cheap labor. However, China places significant importance on food security and the issue of migrant labor. Therefore, robots may provide a suitable solution. Many agricultural activities, such as milking cows, can be relatively easily automated. The city of Chengdu in Sichuan even developed an automated vegetable farm capable of harvesting 10 times a year.
Over time, robots could replace aging labor and assist in their care. For example, exoskeleton suits can support the elderly in mobility. Simpler robots can help seniors bathe or stand up. In 2022, iFlytek, a major artificial intelligence company, announced its intention to send robots to nursing homes to provide companionship and health management. Residents in a nursing home in Shanghai were delighted by the robots that moved around and sang revolutionary songs from their youth.
To make the domestic robot industry more self-sufficient, the Chinese government is increasing investments in research. In August, the city of Beijing announced the establishment of a $1.4 billion fund for robot research. China has already seen some initial achievements. Last year, 36% of the industrial robots installed in China were produced domestically, up from 25% in 2013.
