The competition in humanoid robotics between the U.S. and China is heating up, with each country excelling in different areas. The U.S. leads in advanced artificial intelligence (AI), while China focuses more on physical agility and production efficiency.
American companies are making rapid progress in AI for humanoid robots, particularly in Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models that improve upper-body control. The integration of Google Gemini 2.0 strengthens spatial awareness, while collaborations with NVIDIA support stability through reinforcement learning.
Support from tech giants like Qualcomm, NVIDIA, and Texas Instruments provides more than 150 TOPS of computing power, further strengthening the AI robotics ecosystem in the U.S.
Meanwhile, China has prioritized robotics in its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). Companies such as Unitree Robotics and UBTECH are innovating in core components, including coreless motors and 6D torque sensors.
With strong domestic industry support and its advantage as the world's largest battery manufacturer, China is becoming increasingly efficient at mass producing humanoid robots.
A Rising Rivalry: Brains vs. Brawn
At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang introduced 14 humanoid robots waving to the audience, calling it a "ChatGPT moment for general-purpose robots." Shortly after, 16 H1 robots from Unitree Robotics performed at China's Spring Festival Gala, dancing alongside humans with complex movements powered by cloud-based AI.
This trend underscores the dominance of the U.S. and China in robotics. Of the 14 robots showcased by Nvidia, eight were made in the U.S. and six in China, sparking debate over which country has the edge. Experts say the U.S. leads in the "brains" of robots through AI, while China excels in the "bodies" with more agile designs.
Several models have made significant breakthroughs. The Unitree G1 and H1 boast exceptional balance and agility, the EngineAI PM01 can perform backflips, and the SE01 walks with natural movements.
Meanwhile, RobotEra's XBot-L successfully climbed the Great Wall of China. In the U.S., Tesla's Optimus is being tested for factory tasks, and Boston Dynamics' Atlas is being used by Hyundai in manufacturing.
China's manufacturing advantage is also driving down the price of humanoid robots. By 2023, more than half of the world's robots will be manufactured in China, increasing competition and driving down prices to less than 200,000 yuan (about $27,825).
In February 2025, Unitree launched the H1 and G1, priced from 99,000 yuan on JD.com, while Agibot aims to produce 962 units this year. Tesla also plans to manufacture thousands of Optimus robots by 2026, with prices ranging from US$20,000 to $30,000.
The Global Race for AI Robots
Despite China's rapid progress, the U.S. dominance in AI remains a key factor, accounting for 80% of the value of humanoid robots. A collaboration between Nvidia and Carnegie Mellon University resulted in ASAP, a simulation model that helps robots learn complex movements more efficiently.
American companies continue to innovate. Figure AI is testing Figure 02 with its universal Helix model, while Realbotix Aria is developing social intelligence to enable robots to interact more naturally with humans.
Meanwhile, China is not standing still in the AI race. Advanced yet low-cost AI models such as DeepSeek show great potential for improving locally manufactured humanoid robots. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has even warned that the U.S. technological edge is being challenged by China's rapid progress.
