China’s robots make it to ‘America’s Got Talent’, now comes the harder act

In a surprising turn of events, a Chinese street dancer named Wu Yufei has become the latest talent to grace the final stage of "America's Got Talent" (AGT), this time accompanied by a troupe of robotic dancers. The 27-year-old Sichuan native, who has spent his career performing solo, found a unique partner in the sleek, robot performers of a group called Homies.

Wu expressed his excitement at having the robots by his side, describing the experience as "magical" and feeling as if they shared a "team spirit". The robots, produced by Chinese robotics group Unitree, have gained immense popularity in China following a breakout performance at the country's most-watched television event, the Spring Festival gala.

Training robots to dance involves capturing human movements, running simulations, and then transferring the results onto the robots. For art director Fang Zhenghua, training a robot to dance is akin to "creating a soul". Despite initial skepticism, Fang came to appreciate the potential of robots in dance after working closely with skilled engineers.

The process of training robots for performances is time-consuming and requires significant fine-tuning. While robots excel at rotations and power moves, routines requiring flexibility and improvisation pose significant challenges. Industry insiders view robot dancing not just as entertainment but as a platform to showcase robotic designs and capabilities.

China's humanoid robotics market is projected to reach US$2 billion this year, yet the industry faces scrutiny from investors and policymakers over its commercial viability. Unitree Robotics' debut on the Shanghai stock market saw its value surge 629% in the first day of trading, though it has since fallen by around half. For Wu Yufei, the rapid learning ability of his robot crew presents an intriguing prospect.