{
  "id": 17710726,
  "title": "China’s robot makers have mastered the moves. Now comes the race for brains.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/chinas-robot-makers-have-mastered-the-moves-now-comes-the-race-for",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-02T00:29:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/11/02/china-robot-makers-race-brains/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Beijing – As Chinese robot manufacturers have perfected the physical capabilities of humanoid machines, the next frontier is equipping them with the necessary artificial intelligence to become truly useful across various industries. This shift has sparked a wave of investment in embodied AI, a discipline that focuses on software enabling robots to comprehend their environment, acquire new skills, and modify their behavior without being programmed for each individual task. In the first half of 2026, Chinese companies specializing in embodied AI attracted an astonishing 93.5 billion yuan ($13 billion) in funding through 322 deals, a fivefold increase from the previous year, according to data from ITjuzi, a research firm. The surge in capital is not only benefiting established robot producers but also nurturing niche developers of robot intelligence.",
  "summary": "Embodied AI, which focuses on software that allows robots to understand surroundings and adapt, is opening a new front in U.S.-China tech rivalry.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "Meta builds humanoid robot with China’s Fourier as home robot push expands: report",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/meta-builds-humanoid-robot-with-chinas-fourier-as-home-robot-push",
        "published": "2026-10-31T17:29:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Engadget",
        "title": "Meta reportedly built a humanoid robot prototype that can do household chores",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/meta-reportedly-built-a-humanoid-robot-prototype-that-can-do",
        "published": "2026-11-01T17:17:42.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}