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The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Tech takes centre stage as Chinese students weigh up major choices
Like millions of Chinese students, 18-year-old He Junjie is anxiously waiting to see which university and major will admit him after last month's intensely competitive National Higher Education Entrance Examination, or gaokao . After evaluating his score and studying the universities and programmes he qualified for, He focused on engineering when submitting his applications a few weeks ago. Information and communications technology, as well as vehicle engineering, were the top choices, the young man from east China's Zhejiang province said, because they 'represent the direction of future industrial development'. 'Many of my classmates have also chosen majors related to new technology and engineering, because we think there's quite a lot of demand for such talent in Hangzhou,' He said, referring to the provincial capital that is home to artificial intelligence (AI) start-up DeepSeek and humanoid robotics firm Unitree Robotics. While international trade and urban planning were among the most popular subjects with students two decades ago, when China joined the World Trade Organization and its property market started to boom, a new wave of technology-focused academic priorities is reshaping higher education. Engineering disciplines related to possible technological advancements have reigned supreme as China's state-driven system funnels students into such fields amid intensified tech competition with the United States. While interest in technology is also rising in the US, experts said interest in the technical and liberal arts was better balanced there, reflecting a flexible and market-driven system and a broader range of career paths. 'New engineering has been quite popular in recent years because it points to good employment prospects, either in terms of the number of jobs or the amount of government investment,' said Chu Zhaohui, a senior researcher at the Beijing-based China National Academy of Educational Sciences think tank. Introduced by the Ministry of Education in 2017 and gaining traction in recent years, 'new engineering' encompasses a range of interdisciplinary and emerging majors designed to align with technological advancements and industry needs. They cover fields including AI and data science, intelligent manufacturing, robotics and bioengineering. But such preferences were often 'short-sighted and utilitarian' and lacked the support of personal passion, which meant that many graduates might only be able to perform at a relatively low level, Chu warned. Chinese students have flocked to such disciplines over the past few years as universities have accelerated adjustments of priorities. Shanghai's Fudan University, a top institution known for its strength in liberal arts, announced earlier this year that it would reduce the proportion of liberal arts admissions from over 30% to 20% to make more room for engineering students. It will offer over 1,000 undergraduate admission slots in engineering this year, accounting for nearly 30% of its total enrolment plan and representing a year-on-year increase of over 20%, according to an announcement released in May. The adjustment of university majors is a response to national strategic priorities, as Beijing emphasises technology-driven economic growth and promotes high-end manufacturing. Over the past decade, the Ministry of Education has approved about 20,000 new undergraduate programmes covering 655 majors, with engineering majors accounting for the highest number, according to research from Huazhong University of Science and Technology that was published in March. American families are not as utilitarian, and there is no phenomenon of society or the government guiding the choice of majors There had been a similar trend in the US as universities shifted their focus from diversity, equity and inclusion to employment outcomes following US President Donald Trump's return to the White House in January, said Chen Hang, co-founder of WholeRen Group, an education consultancy based in Pittsburgh. 'This means that people are becoming more pragmatic in their choice of majors, leaning towards fields like technology, healthcare and education,' he said. Chen gave the example of the University of California, a leading public research university, where its computer science master's programme has an enrolment quota of 500 students but received 7,000 applications. In contrast, other programmes at the university had vacancies, he said, citing its president. But social science degrees were still popular in the US because they were relatively easier to acquire and represented career versatility, he said. Compared with Chinese families, 'American families are not as utilitarian, and there is no phenomenon of society or the government guiding the choice of majors', he added. While engineering dominates in China, accounting for 36% of undergraduates in 2022 according to data from Statista, the rate in the US is 5%. Business is the top major in the US, accounting for 19% of undergraduates in the 2021–2022 academic year, followed by health professions and social sciences, according to data from the National Centre for Education Statistics. But that did not mean America was weaker in technological innovation than China, Chu, the Beijing researcher, said. 'For any individual to achieve their best, they must independently choose to pursue what interests them,' he said, adding that following that logic, the emphasis on personal enthusiasm in the US ultimately led to higher societal efficiency. Having been consulted by many Chinese students on which fields to study over the past decades, he said 'few had a clear idea what they wanted to do in the future and picked majors accordingly'. – South China Morning Post
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Tech takes centre stage as Chinese students weigh up major choices
Like millions of Chinese students, 18-year-old He Junjie is anxiously waiting to see which university and major will admit him after last month's intensely competitive National Higher Education Entrance Examination, or gaokao. After evaluating his score and studying the universities and programmes he qualified for, He focused on engineering when submitting his applications a few weeks ago. Information and communications technology, as well as vehicle engineering, were the top choices, the young man from east China's Zhejiang province said, because they 'represent the direction of future industrial development'. 'Many of my classmates have also chosen majors related to new technology and engineering, because we think there's quite a lot of demand for such talent in Hangzhou,' He said, referring to the provincial capital that is home to artificial intelligence (AI) start-up DeepSeek and humanoid robotics firm Unitree Robotics. While international trade and urban planning were among the most popular subjects with students two decades ago, when China joined the World Trade Organization and its property market started to boom, a new wave of technology-focused academic priorities is reshaping higher education. Engineering disciplines related to possible technological advancements have reigned supreme as China's state-driven system funnels students into such fields amid intensified tech competition with the United States.
South China Morning Post
09-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
‘EV moment' for humanoid robots may be 5 years away, UBS says
Humanoid robots are unlikely to deliver significant productivity gains or be disruptive to household routines within the next five years, due to major barriers in artificial intelligence (AI), data collection and inadequate regulatory frameworks, according to UBS. 'The 'EV moment' [for humanoid robotics] may not happen within five years,' Phyllis Wang, China industrials analyst at UBS Securities, said at a briefing on Monday. Wang defined an 'EV moment' as the pivotal breakthrough when technological bottlenecks were resolved, enabling sales to leap from 1 million to 10 million units in a five-year span. She noted that the much-hyped humanoid robotics sector was not yet at this turning point. Despite near-term caution, Wang sees gradual progress, particularly in areas related to ageing societies, such as elderly care and labour shortages, as well as the reshaping of global manufacturing supply chains. UBS predicted that the global humanoid robot population would surpass 300 million by 2025, with annual demand reaching 86 million units and the market value of the industry chain ranging from US$1.4 trillion to US$1.7 trillion. The humanoid robotics sector has been in the spotlight this year, notably after performances by Unitree Robotic's dancing robots at China Central Television's New Year's Gala. Their presence at sports competitions, marathons and technology expos attracts wide attention. A robotic dog from Deep Robotics goes through its paces in Ningxia. Photo: Handout Government policies have further accelerated this momentum. 'Embodied intelligence' – the ability of robots to effectively interact with the physical environment – was mentioned by Premier Li Qiang in his March government work report. Major cities such as Shenzhen, Beijing and Shanghai have fast-tracked dedicated industry funds, injecting capital into the emerging sector. According to UBS data, investments in humanoid robotics increased from just six deals worth US$63 million in 2022 to 40 deals totalling US$562 million last year.
NDTV
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Watch: Cowboy Hat-Wearing "Jake The Rizzbot" Interacts With People
A talking robot has astounded both - the Austin residents and the online community - with its mastery of Gen Z and Gen Alpha vocabulary. Meet Jake the Rizzbot, a child-sized AI-powered robot, which is operated using a wireless controller. Fitted with a silver chain and a fake cowboy hat on its head, the machine has "IN TRAINING" printed on its chest. Videos of Jake interacting with people at The Domain in downtown Austin and North Austin have surfaced on social media. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jesse Hernandez (@jesseh7203) The bot tried to jog down pavements and even chatted to amazed onlookers and impressed Austin residents with his "rizz." On the recent test run, Jake's owner was excited to show off his newest device and enjoyed informing onlookers that they "might get to see it faint" when Jake's battery began to run low. "Hey! I'm Jake, but you might know me better as Rizzbot. It's nice to meet you," Jake said in a viral video, before immediately launching into the laudatory adulation. "You look clean, nephew. That moustache is hard and that beard is cold, ma homie. That white t-shirt is amazing, and that black wristwatch is completely frosted out," Jake added. The bot used several Gen Z and Gen Alpha words, saying, "You've got that badass energy G, that clean drip locked down, and you're rocking it in style. Props to you, you are a solid boss 'fo real." People on the internet were astounded by Jake's flicks, and some were even concerned about the implications of bots like him for the development of artificial intelligence. "More like glaze bot holyyy," one user commented. "Jake always been a chill guy," a second comment read. "The first iteration of the terminator," said one. The robot stands at four feet tall and weighs 170 kg. It was created by China-based Unitree Robotics, which debuted the Unitree G1 humanoid agent in May, as per The NY Post. The Unitree website states that the price is approximately $16,000 (almost Rs 13.7 lakh), although it frequently varies. The robot is intended to function as an "AI avatar" that grows "based on deep reinforcement learning and simulation training."
New York Post
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Slick-talking, cowboy hat-wearing robot dubbed ‘Jake the Rizzbot' spits Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang, leaving strangers gobsmacked
The Wild West meets Wall-E. A slick-talking, cowboy hat-wearing robot, unofficially named 'Jake the Rizzbot,' stunned both Texas locals and the Internet with its proficiency in both Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang while out on the town last week — even inspiring a Bitcoin in its honor. The child-sized, AI-powered robot — complete with a knockoff cowboy hat and silver chain — was captured on video all around Austin, Texas during its training out in the wild. The little engine did its best to jog down sidewalks and even talked to awed passersby, while spitting the latest slang, clips shared online show. 3 Jake the Rizzbot was captured on video galavanting through Austin, Texas last week. Storyful Jake left no stone unturned as it galavanted through Austin. The robot, which is operated by a person through a wireless controller, is manufactured by the China-based Unitree Robotics. The Unitree G1 humanoid agent was originally unveiled last May, clocking in at 4 feet tall and 77 pounds. It sells for around $16,000, but prices often vary, according to the Unitree website. The robot is meant to serve as an 'AI avatar' that develops 'based on deep reinforcement learning and simulation training,' according to the company website. Jake is thankfully still learning and, despite his name, isn't able to pick up ladies at the bars just yet. Still his 'rizz' impressed Austin locals enjoying the nightlife last week. The man who owns and operates Jake accompanied it on the test run. He was eager to show off his latest gadget and wasn't bothered when Jake started to run out of battery, instead telling people that they 'might get to see it faint.' 3 Jake is a Unitree G1 humanoid agent that sells for around $16,000. Storyful 'Hey! My name is Jake, but perhaps better known as Rizzbot. It's nice to meet you,' Jake began in a video captured by a man it encountered, before diving straight into the typical lauding praise it's known for. 'Ma homie, that beard is cold and that mustache is hard, you look clean, nephew. Gee, that black smartwatch is straight iced out, and that white tee's bangin'. You got that clean drip locked down, you got that boss energy G, and you rockin' it with style. Props to you, you are a solid boss 'fo real,' the bot said, borrowing several terms from Gen Z and Gen Alpha. As videos of Jake went viral, people online were left gobsmacked — and even scared about what bots like it mean for the future of artificial intelligence. 3 The robot relies on a learning AI program to operate. 'Let it walk around the parking lot by Macy's I bet it will get robbed,' one user commented. 'It's all fun and games until the cowboy robot pulls out a machete,' one man wrote. Despite becoming a quick microcelebrity online, Jake doesn't have an official social media account. It's unclear who exactly owns the bot — the man who accompanied it in Austin hasn't been publicly identified — and why its AI has been trained to flatter strangers.
