China has revealed its plans to mass-produce humanoid robots that it believes will have a significant impact on the world, similar to smartphones. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) stated in a blueprint document that by 2025, these robots will reach an advanced level and be mass-produced. The MIIT compared the potential disruption caused by these robots to that of computers, smartphones, and new energy vehicles. While the document lacks specific details, Chinese companies like Fourier Intelligence are actively working towards this goal. Fourier Intelligence plans to start mass-producing its GR-1 humanoid robot by the end of this year, with the aim of delivering thousands of robots by 2024. Similarly, Agility Robotics in the US is set to open a robot factory to produce hundreds of bipedal robots capable of human-like movements. Amazon is also testing Agility Robotics’ Digit robot for warehouse automation. Tesla is developing its own humanoid robot named Optimus or Tesla Bot, but it is still in the early stages of development.
