Latest news with #UbtechRobotics
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
China launches ‘world's first' humanoid robot mall that operates like a car dealership
China has opened what it is calling the world's first 'Robot Mall' in Beijing. This first-of-its-kind 4S-style store is dedicated to the exclusive sale of robots to the general public. The '4S' format means the mall offers sales, service, spare parts, and surveys (customer feedback), all under one roof. This is similar in format to car dealerships in China, except dedicated to all things humanoid. According to reports, the mall will sell over 100 types of robots from up to 200 brands like Ubtech Robotics and Unitree Robotics. It is located within a four-storey building, located in Beijing's high-tech E-Town district. Units on sale vary from small consumer gadget scale robots (priced at around 2,000 yuan or $278) to large, more sophisticated multi-million-yuan humanoid robots. The mall also features some showpiece robots, including a life-size Albert Einstein humanoid (worth about $97,000). From robotic cooks to Einstein humanoid Other interesting pieces on sale include robotic dogs, chess-playing bots, dancing machines, and animatronic historical figures like emperor Qin Shi Huang, Isaac Newton, and the renowned Chinese poet Li Bai. The mall will also sell more practical robots for cooking, coffee-making, medicine dispensing, painting, basketball, obstacle courses, and more. Customers will also be served by robots at the mall's specialist robot-themed restaurant. Here, robot waiters will serve dishes cooked and prepared by robotic chefs. The mall features an entertainment area where visitors can watch robot sports like soccer and track events. Consumers will also benefit from a dedicated area of the mall for spare parts and servicing. Visitors to the 'Robot Mall' are encouraged to test and interact with many of the products on display, making the experience closer to a tech playground than a traditional showroom. The layout is designed to familiarize the public with robots as everyday companions rather than futuristic novelties, underscoring China's aim to normalize human-robot interaction in daily life. A push to showcase China's soft-power ambitions The timing, location, and heavy media coverage of the launch make it as much a showcase of China's soft-power ambitions as it is a retail venture, positioning the country as a leader not only in manufacturing robots, but also in marketing their lifestyle integration. "If robots are to enter thousands of households, relying solely on robotics companies is not enough," Wang Yifan, a store director at the mall, told Reuters, emphasizing the need for tailored solutions for consumers. According to reports, the development is part of a bigger push on the international stage for China, with the country investing heavily in AI and robotics to offset slowing economic growth and an ageing population. To this end, Beijing sanctioned more than $20 billion in subsidies last year and is planning to set up a 1 trillion yuan (~$137 billion) fund to aid artificial intelligence and robotics startups. The opening of the mall coincided with the 2025 World Robot Conference (August 8–12) and precedes the first World Humanoid Robot Games (August 14–17), to be held in the nation's capital. In the wake of China's accelerated technological aspirations, U.S. robotics companies like Tesla and Boston Dynamics have urged the federal government to develop a national strategy to keep pace. Solve the daily Crossword
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GMA Network
3 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Beijing store stocks humanoid robots from over 40 Chinese brands
Too tired to make your morning coffee? Or maybe you need a hand moving boxes. At a store in Beijing - there's a robot for that. The store features over 100 robots from more than 40 Chinese brands such as Ubtech Robotics and Unitree Robotics. It's among China's first to sell humanoid and consumer-oriented robots, reflecting on the country's ambition to lead in AI and robotics. Store director Wang Yifan, describes the store as '4S.' He says it will offer sales, spare parts, maintenance and survey services, like a car dealership. Wang says the bots' prices range from about $278 to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Prices are still too high, he says, adding that costs should come down once orders start coming in and companies establish prodution lines. China's focus on robotics aims to address challenges such as an ageing population and slowing growth. The sector has been bolstered by generous subsidies exceeding $20 billion over the past year, while Beijing plans a $137 billion fund to support AI and robotic startups. —Reuters
Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
China's new robot store sells butlers, musicians and even Einstein
[3/13] A media member looks at a humanoid robot portraying the Qin emperor Qin Shi Huang at Robot Mall. Over 100 robots will be sold at the new store from more than 40 Chinese brands such as Ubtech Robotics and Unitree Robotics. REUTERS/Florence Lo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab
Gizmodo
4 days ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
China Opens ‘Robot Mall,' Its First Mall for Robots
China opened its first full-scale shopping center dedicated entirely to robots on Friday, as part of a broader push to bring robotics from research labs into people's homes. The four-story Robot Mall, located in Beijing's high-tech E-Town district, showcases more than 100 robots from over 40 brands, including Chinese companies like Ubtech Robotics and Unitree Robotics. The store operates like a car dealership, but for robots. It follows the '4S' model common in China, offering sales, service, spare parts, and surveys or opportunities for customers to provide feedback all in one location. 'If robots are to enter thousands of households, relying solely on robotics companies is not enough,' Wang Yifan, a director at the mall, told Reuters. Robots at the new mall start at 2,000 yuan ($278) and go up to several million yuan. A talking humanoid replica of Albert Einstein is going for 700,000 yuan ($97,473). The mall also includes a themed restaurant where robot waiters serve dishes and drinks prepared by robot chefs. Visitors can also watch robots play soccer or Chinese chess, interact with robot dogs, or meet animatronic versions of historical figures like Isaac Newton, Emperor Qin Shi Huang, and the famed Chinese poet Li Bai. The opening of Robot Mall coincides with two major robotics conferences in the city this month. Friday was also the first day of the 2025 World Robot Conference, which runs through August 12. Over the course of the conference, nearly 500 experts from over 20 countries will gather to discuss the latest trends in robotics. Approximately 200 robotics companies will also be present to showcase their latest research and development breakthroughs in over 1,500 exhibits. Just days later, Beijing will host the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games, taking place from August 14 to 17. Humanoid robots will face off in a series of 21 events, testing their skills in everything from athletics, soccer, and dance to handling materials, drug sorting, and other performance-based and scenario-driven challenges. So far, more than 100 teams have registered to compete. All of this is part of China's broader push to win the global robotics race. The country is pouring tons of resources into the sector, including more than $20 billion in subsidies over the past year alone. Beijing is also reportedly planning a one trillion yuan ($137 billion) fund to help support AI and robotics startups, according to Reuters. Some U.S. robotics companies, including Tesla and Boston Dynamics, have already called on lawmakers to develop a national strategy that can compete with China's.
Reuters
6 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Beijing robot store stocks Einstein replicas, chess partners, in AI leadership push
BEIJING, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Fancy a robot chess partner to test your moves on? Perhaps a robotic pet dog? Or a life-sized replica of physicist Albert Einstein that could teach you his theories on relativity? Those are some of over 100 robots that will be sold at a new store in Beijing that opens on Friday, showcasing humanoid models from more than 40 Chinese brands such as Ubtech Robotics ( opens new tab and Unitree Robotics. The store is among China's first to sell humanoid and consumer-oriented robots, reflecting the country's ambition to lead in AI and robotics. "If robots are to enter thousands of households, relying solely on robotics companies is not enough," Wang Yifan, a store director, said on Wednesday, emphasizing the need for tailored solutions for consumers. Describing the store as "4S" — offering sales, spare parts, maintenance and survey services, like car dealerships — Wang said the robots range in price from 2,000 yuan ($278.33) to several million yuan. China's focus on robotics aims to address challenges such as an ageing population and slowing growth. The sector has been bolstered by generous subsidies exceeding $20 billion over the past year, while Beijing plans a one trillion yuan ($137 billion) fund to support AI and robotics startups. ($1 = 7.1857 Chinese yuan renminbi)
