The New York Times
Over the past year, Chinese companies have significantly ramped up production of humanoid robots and begun seeking real-world applications for them—ranging from logistics and manufacturing to retail, healthcare, and the service sector, according to The New York Times. According to market participants, commercialization is becoming the main challenge of the industry’s next phase of development.
According to Chinese authorities, by the end of 2026, the country expects to put more than 10,000 humanoid robots into commercial operation and develop over 100 practical application scenarios. To this end, state-owned enterprises, manufacturing sites, and regions are being enlisted to test the technologies.
China already holds a leading position in the production of such systems. According to industry estimates, Chinese companies accounted for about 85% of global humanoid robot production in 2025.
The technology exists—the market is still taking shape
Despite the rapid growth in supply, the industry’s commercial viability remains uncertain.
The cost of humanoid systems today ranges from approximately $6,000 for certain simplified solutions to more than $99,000 for fully functional models. At the same time, many projects are currently used primarily in research centers, pilot programs, or demonstration projects, the publication notes.
Samm Saks, a senior technology policy researcher at the New America think tank, emphasized: “The economics remain challenging: humanoid robots are still expensive to manufacture, sensitive to operate, and dependent on a well-structured environment to function.”
Experts point out that real-world application scenarios are still limited: most such machines cope worse with unpredictable conditions than specialized industrial robots, which have long been used in factories.
Will robots change the global economy?
The story of humanoid robots reveals a broader trend: artificial intelligence is gradually moving beyond software and beginning to transform into the physical infrastructure of the economy.
If China succeeds in reducing the cost and proving the economic viability of such systems, this could impact the labor market, industrial productivity, and the competitiveness of supply chains on a global scale.
For businesses, the question is no longer whether robots can perform specific tasks, but whether companies can profit from their widespread adoption.
