Beyond China's humanoid robots, a quieter machine revolution is unfolding
There are more than two million robots working in China's factories - and they are scaling up fast.
Chen Tianyu, a 28-year-old teacher, spends his downtime in factories where automation is rapidly replacing human labor. His students are learning AI and robotics, understanding that the future lies in embracing these technologies. China's $20 billion plan, aimed at outpacing the US in innovation, is reflected in the Hangzhou Technician Institute, one of many vocational schools dedicated to producing tech-savvy engineers.
The country currently employs more than two million robots in factories, a number that continues to soar. China now produces over half of the world's industrial robots, a testament to its commitment to automation. However, the impact of this rapid transformation on China's human workforce remains uncertain. As China hosts the World Humanoid Games, showcasing robots that perform various industrial tasks, a factory in Chengdu demonstrates the coexistence of old and new technologies.
While robots excel at repetitive movements, a team of engineers works on developing more advanced robots capable of performing complex tasks. As China's population ages and shrinks, the government is eager to revolutionize its factories to avoid labor shortages and economic slowdown. However, the speed of this transition is crucial, as job losses could severely impact the workforce if automation moves too quickly.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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