A senior Chinese official overseeing a major technology hub in Beijing has sought to allay concerns that the burgeoning humanoid robot sector will lead to widespread unemployment. Liang Liang, a deputy director at the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, home to one of China's largest tech clusters, stated that he believes humanoid robots will augment human capabilities and operate in challenging environments rather than displace human workers.

In a recent interview with foreign media, Liang emphasized that the focus is on boosting productivity and tackling tasks that humans are either unwilling or unable to perform, such as deep-sea or space exploration. "We don't believe robots will make people unemployed, but rather they'll boost efficiency or take on tasks humans are unwilling to do - like exploring the vast universe or the ocean depths where people can't go. Machines can assist us in that exploration," Liang explained.

He further elaborated on the potential for continuous operation, stating, "When it's nighttime and humans need rest, machines could keep working, giving us better, cheaper, and more user-friendly products. So we see this as the direction for our future development."

Liang pointed to the recent robot half-marathon held in Beijing as a deliberate demonstration of this vision of human-robot collaboration rather than competition. The event featured separate tracks for human athletes and robot teams, highlighting the idea of parallel advancement without direct replacement. "You see, in the marathon, humans have their track where they push their physical limits, and the machines have their own track where they jointly challenge their limits - but they aren't trying to take over the human course to sprint to the finish line. The future will be like this too," Liang asserted.



Liang's remarks were made at the headquarters of X-Humanoid, also known as the Beijing Humanoid Robotics Innovation Centre, a state-backed entity whose robot, Tiangong Ultra, emerged victorious in the inaugural robot half-marathon.

Beyond the sports-oriented Ultra model, capable of reaching speeds of up to 12 kph (7.56 mph), the centre showcased other prototypes designed for more practical applications. Demonstrations highlighted the robots' ability to handle mundane tasks in dynamic environments, even when faced with obstructions or changes. In one instance, an employee repeatedly interfered with a robot attempting to pick up litter, moving the object or snatching it away. The robot consistently adapted, relocating the litter and completing the task, showcasing a crucial self-corrective capability that the centre believes will be essential for their integration as productive workers.

Liang's statements underscore the Chinese government's perspective on the rapid advancements in humanoid robotics, emphasizing a future where these technologies serve as tools to enhance human productivity and address challenges rather than leading to mass job displacement. This narrative comes at a time of significant state investment and rapid development within China's robotics sector.