A viral 20-second clip from within a Chinese humanoid robot factory has gone viral across social media platforms. The video, uploaded by user “meimei4515,” shows a bizarre scene with lifelike androids who defy the stereotype of robots by having human-like skin and hair. Rows of humanoid figures, disembodied heads on stands, and an interesting exhibition of humanoid arms that look like they belong in a dystopian science fiction story are some of the scenarios shown.
The opening video’s intriguing commentary, translated from Chinese, suggests that the factory workers have begun mass production. After more research, it turns out that ExRobots own the eye-catching arm-tree display. This Chinese business develops “efficient and friendly smart guide services” for various industries, including the public sector and healthcare facilities.
ExRobots uses the ‘Ex Future Science and Technology Museum’ in Dalian to demonstrate its technological capabilities. It looks like a robot version of Madame Tussaud’s wax museum. Interestingly, the museum provides interactive activities such as using motion capture to control humanoid heads and 3D scanning to customise mechanical characters.
Despite popular belief, the video displays sophisticated animatronics capabilities meant to grab viewers’ interest rather than the arrival of AI companions. Nonetheless, there has been much advancement in humanoid robotics in 2024 thanks to Chinese businesses like Unitree, UBTech/Baidu, and others pushing the boundaries of AI-driven robotic workers.
Humanoid robotics advancements in China are keeping pace with those in North America, with businesses such as Agility, Figure, and Tesla spearheading the trend. Amidst this development, excitement is building around Boston Dynamics’ upcoming Atlas robot, which heralds a revolutionary stage in AI-powered human-robot interaction.
Although viral videos may temporarily attract attention, the true value of the humanoid revolution is found in its social influence. Humanoid robots have the ability to reinvent human-machine collaboration and change labour dynamics through AI integration, bringing in a new era of technological growth.
Source: ExRobots
