The Trump administration has banned the import of new Chinese-made humanoid robots into the United States, warning the rapidly advancing machines pose an “unacceptable” national security risk.
It marks a very clear line in the sand in the rapidly accelerating artificial intelligence arms race between the two superpowers.
The move applies to China’s advanced robots, including human-like machines and the famous four-legged “robot dogs” going viral on social media.
The concerns are obvious. The nation’s top officials are wary the highly-advanced machines could be exploited by foreign governments for surveillance, and remotely-controlled espionage.
US communications regulator the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said the devices could allow “malign actors” to spy on Americans, enhance foreign intelligence operations or be commandeered through cyber attacks.
The agency also banned imports of Chinese-made power inverters, a critical component used in solar farms and data centres, over fears they could provide overseas actors with access to key pieces of US infrastructure.
FCC chairman Brendan Carr said the regulator was moving to “secure America’s critical supply chains” by adding the products to its national security “Covered List”.
The ban applies only to newly imported devices and does not affect existing models already approved for sale in the US.
China has meanwhile accused Washington of “politicising” trade and technology, urging the US to abandon its “hegemonic mindset” and warning Beijing would take “all necessary measures” to protect its interests.
China’s absurd robot boom
The move comes as China races ahead in one of the world’s fastest-growing technology sectors.
Over the past two years, videos of Chinese-made humanoid robots have flooded social media, showing machines sprinting across rough terrain, dancing in sync, performing kung fu routines, completing backflips, even competing in half-marathons.
They also have a fairly dubious record for causing injury to humans, oftentimes earning buckets of views from millions of concerned-yet-amused people.
For better or worse, the clips have become a powerful showcase for China’s rapidly improving robotics industry.
Companies including Unitree, UBTech and AgiBot have dramatically accelerated development, producing machines designed to work in factories, warehouses, hospitals, aged care and eventually inside people’s homes.
China is also investing heavily in industrial robotics, already operating more factory robots than any other nation as it attempts to offset a shrinking workforce and boost manufacturing productivity.
Videos of dimly-lit factory floors, dubbed China’s “dark factories”, have captured the world’s attention, showing dozens of machines manufacturing in the dark, illuminated only by flying sparks.
The country’s four-legged robot dogs have attracted particular attention.
Originally designed for industrial inspections, the machines are now routinely demonstrated climbing stairs, navigating difficult terrain and carrying equipment through disaster zones.
Some have also been showcased alongside Chinese police and military units during public exercises, where they have been used for surveillance, reconnaissance and crowd-control demonstrations.
While many of the viral videos appear lighthearted, experts say the underlying technology has serious strategic implications.
The same advances that allow robots to navigate homes or factory floors autonomously can also be adapted for military logistics, hazardous environments and critical infrastructure protection.
The tech race
The technological rivalry between Washington and Beijing remains at the forefront of the tech world.
The US has already imposed sweeping export controls on advanced semiconductors to slow China’s development of artificial intelligence and military technology, while China has responded with tighter controls on rare earth exports critical to electronics manufacturing.
Humanoid robots are increasingly being viewed as the next frontier.
Companies such as Tesla and Boston Dynamics are developing their own advanced machines in the United States, but Chinese manufacturers have moved aggressively into commercial production, often selling robots at substantially lower prices.
Washington now fears that allowing foreign-made robots equipped with cameras, microphones and sophisticated AI systems into homes, businesses and public infrastructure could create entirely new national security vulnerabilities.
The US is simultaneously pumping out cutting-edge AI tech and robotics, oftentimes generating controversy.
Privacy advocates have spent years warning that everyday consumer technology is steadily becoming more capable of collecting data about the people using it.
Meta’s AI-powered smart glasses, for example, have reignited concerns over always-available cameras and microphones, with critics warning the devices could make discreet recording and facial recognition increasingly commonplace.
Meta says users are notified when recording is taking place and that privacy safeguards are built into the devices, but debate over where the technology is heading has only intensified.
The same questions are emerging in the artificial intelligence sector.
US software giant Palantir has become one of the world’s most valuable technology companies after developing AI-powered platforms that allow governments, militaries and businesses to rapidly analyse enormous volumes of data. Its software is used across defence, intelligence, border security and law enforcement, with supporters arguing it helps identify threats more quickly while critics warn it expands the surveillance capabilities of governments.
Other firms are racing into the same market, developing AI systems capable of analysing live video feeds, detecting unusual behaviour, tracking people across multiple cameras and identifying patterns that would previously have required thousands of human analysts.
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