Human is no longer the only one: In Beijing, robots become part of the home, family, and healthcare
The latest humanoid robot exhibition in Beijing no longer felt futuristic — the exhibits weren’t astonishing; they were ordinary. And that’s exactly what is both unsettling and fascinating. Robots here are not part of a show — they’re part of daily life, work, and care.
Manufacturers report that over 30% of households in China have already integrated at least one domestic robot into their living space. We’re not just talking about vacuums or smart speakers — these are full-sized, autonomous or semi-autonomous systems that can communicate, assist, care, and sometimes even make decisions. They don’t mimic humans — they replace them in their roles.
Robots are entering healthcare particularly fast. China’s public health system, overwhelmed and understaffed, is now widely replacing medical personnel with machines — especially in diagnostics, patient assistance, and routine procedures. The reasons are clear: robots don’t get tired, don’t argue, don’t make pressure-induced mistakes, and cost less than a qualified human assistant. More importantly — patients don’t resist. An AI robot with a polite interface and instant responses provokes less anxiety than a tired, masked night nurse.
The exhibition no longer asks “Can robots live among us?” — it shows how quickly and quietly they stop being “among” and start being “instead.”
