China gives humanoid robots 6 months to prove they can work

China is launching a nationwide training programme to push humanoid robots out of laboratories and into real jobs. The goal is to move these machines from dance performances and marathon races into factories, warehouses, and hospitals. Beijing wants to speed up the commercial use of humanoid robots and embodied AI. Embodied AI refers to artificial intelligence that can move and act in the physical world, not just process data on a screen. The programme gives local governments and state-owned enterprises less than six months to prove the technology works in real production and service settings. If successful, this could transform how China operates its industries.