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China Enters the Race to Develop Robot Brains

Robotics2 min read

Chinese companies are racing to build smarter "brains" for humanoid robots, not just better bodies. Investors are pouring money into software that lets robots learn new jobs on their own.

China shifts its focus to robot brains

For years, Chinese firms built humanoid robots that could run, dance and do flips. Now they want robots that can do useful work. To do this, they are focusing on embodied AI. This is software that helps a robot understand its surroundings, learn new tasks and adapt without being programmed for each job.

Key facts

  • Chinese embodied AI companies raised 93.5 billion yuan (about 13 billion USD) in 322 deals in the first half of 2026.
  • That is 5 times more than the same period last year.
  • Some Chinese startups, such as X Square, Galaxea and Spirit AI, are valued at about 3 billion USD.
  • UB Tech is hiring a chief scientist for AI models with pay of up to 124 million yuan (about 18 million USD).

Why the change is happening

Competition is making robot hardware cheaper. So robot makers have concluded that profit will come from intelligence, not from the machine itself. Meanwhile, the US and China are competing hard in this new field. US companies such as Physical Intelligence, Skild AI and Generalist lead in some advanced robot AI systems. Chinese developers hope their factory strength and access to real-world training data will help them catch up.

Why it matters

Robots that can learn many tasks could change factories, transport and overall productivity. The country that best combines AI with machines may gain a large lead and shape the global robot market. Training these robots is also hard. Unlike chatbots, which learn from text on the internet, robots need examples of physical actions, such as grasping objects or handling flexible cables.

What to watch

  • Whether robots can learn new skills quickly, without long retraining.
  • Whether Chinese firms can get enough high-quality physical interaction data.
  • How much more money flows into AI software compared with robot hardware.
  • Whether Chinese makers can use their factories and customers to test and improve their systems.

Glossary

embodied AI
AI that controls a physical machine, such as a robot, so it can sense, learn and act in the real world.
Physical Intelligence
A US startup that builds software to teach robots many different skills.
Spirit AI
A Chinese startup that develops AI software for robots; co-founder Gao Yang was quoted in the article.

Same story, different eyes

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