As China continues to push forward with its technological ambitions, a new frontier is emerging: embodied artificial intelligence. The integration of robots and drones into daily life is not only changing the way goods are delivered but also reshaping urban landscapes.
The Rise of Embodied AI in China
As China continues to push forward with its ambitious plans for technological advancement, a new frontier is emerging: embodied artificial intelligence. The integration of robots and drones into daily life is not only changing the way goods are delivered but also reshaping urban landscapes.
Embodied AI refers to artificial intelligence that is grounded in a physical body, allowing it to interact with and navigate the world through sensorimotor experiences.
This approach combines machine learning, robotics, and computer vision to create intelligent systems that can perceive, reason, and act upon their environment.
Embodied AI has potential applications in fields such as healthcare, education, and manufacturing, where human-robot collaboration is essential.
A New Era of Delivery
In Shenzhen’s Central Park, an ‘airdrop cabinet’ stands as a testament to China’s innovative approach to food delivery. Hungry park-goers can order anything from rice noodles to Subway sandwiches to bubble tea, and have it delivered by a drone. The technology may still be in its infancy, with the food arriving slightly cold due to the short journey time. However, Meituan aims to beat human delivery times by about 10%.
Embodied AI: A Key Driver of Growth
China’s leaders see artificial intelligence as key to upgrading military strength, solving problems created by a shrinking workforce, and a source of national pride. The country is doubling down on the industries where it sees potential – and need – to develop ahead of the US. With a focus on ’embodied AI,’ China aims to drive economic growth through new technologies.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a subject of interest for decades, with its roots dating back to the Dartmouth Summer Research Project in 1956.
Since then, 'AI has made significant progress in natural language processing, machine learning, and computer vision.'
Today, 'AI is integrated into various industries, including healthcare, finance, and transportation, improving efficiency and accuracy.'
According to a report by Gartner, global AI spending is projected to reach $190 billion by 2025.
Humanoid Robots Take Center Stage
Humanoid robots are gaining popularity in China, with companies like Unitree showcasing their capabilities at high-profile events. The highlight of this year’s Spring festival gala was a dance performed by a troupe of humanoid robots, which sparked widespread excitement. With reinforcement learning allowing for faster training times, the pace of innovation is accelerating.
Overcoming Challenges
Despite the rapid progress, challenges remain. Any AI model requires reams of data for training, and the industry still faces hurdles in developing robotic AI models that can learn human-like behaviors and movements. However, companies like DeepSeek are making strides with their open-source models, which have sparked widespread adoption.
Robotic AI refers to artificial intelligence integrated into robots, enabling them to perform tasks autonomously.
This technology combines machine learning algorithms with robotic hardware, allowing for efficient and precise execution of complex operations.
Key applications include manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation.
According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global robotic AI market is expected to reach $14.8 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 34.6%.
The integration of robotic AI has improved productivity and reduced costs in various industries.
A Shift in Perception
The narrative has shifted, with the government backing a winning horse. With other sectors of China’s economy facing significant challenges, such as exports under pressure from tariffs and consumer demand remaining weak, the focus is on supporting technology-driven growth. ‘Now that real estate is no longer a source of revenue for many local governments, they have to attract good companies and support what they are doing,’ says Amber Zhang.
A New Era Dawns
As China continues to push forward with its technological ambitions, it’s clear that embodied AI is here to stay. Whether it’s drones delivering food or humanoid robots taking on everyday tasks, the impact of this technology will be felt for years to come.
