China used its most-watched television event, the annual CCTV Spring Festival Gala, to send a powerful message about its technological ambitions: the future of manufacturing is humanoid.
The Lunar New Year broadcast, often compared to the Super Bowl in scale and influence, turned its prime-time stage into a showcase for next-generation robotics and artificial intelligence. Four rising startups Unitree Robotics, Galbot, Noetix and MagicLab demonstrated cutting-edge humanoid machines in elaborate performances that blended entertainment with industrial ambition.
Martial Arts, AI and Precision Control
One of the gala’s standout moments featured more than a dozen Unitree humanoid robots performing complex martial arts routines, wielding swords, poles and nunchucks in tightly choreographed sequences alongside child performers. The demonstration included movements inspired by “drunken boxing,” requiring advanced balance control and real-time coordination.
The performance highlighted breakthroughs in motion control, multi-robot coordination and fault recovery technology that allows robots to regain balance after falling, a critical capability for real-world industrial deployment.
Elsewhere in the programme, humanoid robots from Noetix appeared in comedy sketches, while MagicLab’s machines performed synchronised dances with human actors during the patriotic song “We Are Made in China.” The show’s opening segment also spotlighted ByteDance’s AI chatbot Doubao, reinforcing the central role of artificial intelligence in China’s technology push.
From Stage to Factory Floor
The gala has long been a platform for signalling Beijing’s industrial priorities from space exploration to drone technology. This year’s emphasis on humanoid robots reflects China’s strategy to integrate AI and advanced robotics into manufacturing, aiming to offset the economic pressures of an ageing population.
China already dominates the global humanoid robotics market. According to research firm Omdia, the country accounted for about 90% of the 13,000 humanoid robots shipped worldwide last year. Investment banks project that domestic sales could more than double this year, underscoring the sector’s rapid growth.
Major players, including Unitree, are reportedly preparing for stock market listings, drawing investor attention as the government elevates robotics to the same strategic importance as electric vehicles and semiconductors.
With nearly 80% of China’s live television audience tuning in last year, the Spring Festival Gala provides more than spectacle it offers companies a direct line from industrial policy to public visibility. The message from this year’s show was unmistakable: China intends to lead the humanoid robotics revolution, not just in laboratories, but on the factory floor.
Source: Reuters