Can China’s Robots Do Real Jobs? A Sneak Peek Inside Our New Issue
China’s ubiquitous dancing robots are moving from the stage to the real world; a critical year for the country’s commercial space industry; and a GTA-inspired short story—all in our latest issue!
Hello TWOC readers!
You might have seen videos of China’s humanoid robots busting out dance moves online. They have even taken the stage on the latest season of America’s Got Talent. Back in China, these futuristic machines are even more ubiquitous—from live concerts to marathon races—wowing crowds with their slick moves and futuristic appeal.
The industry is indeed growing rapidly. As the world’s largest robot producer, China has seen humanoid robots leap from research labs into the public spotlight over the past two years. But beyond the dazzling performances, a bigger question remains: Why are these robots still better at entertaining crowds than at helping out on factory floors or in people’s homes? In our new magazine issue, “I, Humanoid,” we talk with industry insiders to explore where humanoid robots are being put to work today—and what hurdles remain before they become part of everyday life.
Support our in-depth, on-the-ground reporting from China by purchasing our latest issue!
A sneak peek into the magazine and more exclusive stories from our website:
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Exit Stage Left: China’s Robots Need a Job
The country’s humanoids are moving from flashy performances to the real world of work, but challenges remain for this nascent industry. Read More
Can China Build Its Own “Falcon 9”?
A decade in, China’s commercial space sector is entering its reusable-rocket era—a wave of debut flights and a long way still to go. A LandSpace engineer on what comes next. Read more
Why Are Chinese Players Boycotting the Country’s Most Lucrative Otome Game?
The introduction of a new character in the hit Love and Deepspace franchise has landed developer Papergames in hot water and sparked debate over the business strategy behind one of China’s fastest-growing gaming sectors: female-oriented romance games. Read more
What We’re Reading
Tropical Assassin | Short Story
“In Los Santos, everything’s legal, as long as you don’t get caught.” Read more
Chinese You Need
The Psychology Terms Capturing What It Means to Be Young and Chinese
As mental health pressures mount, young Chinese are borrowing from psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy to build a new vocabulary to capture the anxieties of modern life. Learn more in our language column
Buy Our Latest Issue
I, Humanoid
China’s humanoid robotics industry is growing fast. As the world’s largest robot producer, the country has seen these machines explode in popularity over the past two years, becoming ubiquitous at events, from live concerts to marathon races, and drawing crowds with their flashy moves. Yet many wonder why they remain largely confined to the stage rather than performing real work in factories and homes. In this issue, we speak with industry insiders to examine their current applications and what still stands in the way of their use in practical, everyday tasks. Support on-the-ground reporting from China—get your copy today!