Summary of the Key Points in Plain Language
This article sheds light on the most pressing contradictions in the currently booming humanoid robotics sector: on one hand, there is a frenzy of capital investment, with an average of 500 million yuan being poured into the field of embodied intelligence every day. The logistics industry is widely recognized as the most feasible application for this technology, with companies like SF Express and China Post already piloting the use of robots for sorting parcels. Some robots can achieve 85% of human efficiency and operate 24/7. On the other hand, many experienced logistics workers are skeptical, arguing that the tasks currently performed by robots—such as flipping parcels and scanning labels—can already be done more efficiently by cheaper automated devices. They predict that once the sorting systems are fully upgraded in two to three years, these jobs will disappear, leaving robots with no role to play.
Industry experts have made it clear: humanoid robots are not a fake solution designed to scam money in the logistics industry. However, they will not completely replace human labor in such a short time as capital suggests. The entire industry still needs at least 10 years to mature. In the logistics sector, where every penny counts, robots will only become widely adopted if they are cheaper to use than hiring workers. Moreover, technological advancements must come alongside support for workers to transition to new roles if the industry is to thrive in the long term.
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Detailed Explanation of the Points
1. Just how popular is this sector, and where is the money being spent?
The pace of investment in humanoid robots is astonishing: while the entire embodied intelligence sector only raised 51.1 billion yuan in 2025, which was 3.5 times that of 2024, the total funding in the first half of 2026 has already reached 93.5 billion yuan, five times the amount for the same period in 2025. This means that an average of 500 million yuan is being invested daily. The reason for this capital frenzy is that humanoid robots represent AI that can operate in the real world, unlike previous AI systems that could only process data on servers. These robots, resembling humans in appearance, can perform tasks in all scenarios where humans can, offering much greater potential. Leading logistics companies are already capable of producing thousands of robots in batches, with a 300% growth rate and having raised 2 billion yuan in just half a year. The entire industry is competing for the first opportunity to make money from these technologies.
2. Are the criticisms from logistics workers simply negative opinions?
Many critics argue that these workers are conservative, but their concerns are based on practical realities. The robots currently being piloted are mainly used in sorting centers to flip parcels so that the labels face the scanning devices. However, there are already mature six-sided scanning devices available, which can read all six sides of a parcel without the need for manual flipping. These devices are cost-effective and can handle any orientation of the parcels. Many experienced workers have calculated that such devices are already inexpensive, and once further improved in the next two to three years, the need for manual flipping will disappear, rendering robots useless for this task.
3. Why aren’t humanoid robots a fake solution?
Experts point out three irreplaceable advantages of humanoid robots over traditional equipment: First, six-sided scanning devices are limited; they can only process parcels neatly arranged on conveyor belts. Humans and humanoid robots are the only ones that can sort out messy piles of parcels. Second, not all logistics sites can afford six-sided scanning devices. For large centers handling hundreds of thousands of parcels, the cost is reasonable, but for smaller sites with fewer parcels, buying such devices would be wasteful. Third, labeling parcels with RFID tags to read information directly is impractical due to the high cost. Additionally, the difficulty in hiring workers in the logistics industry means that robots can provide a valuable alternative, especially in residential areas.
4. When will humanoid robots become widely adopted?
The idea of replacing all human labor in two to three years is unrealistic. The industry needs at least 10 years to mature. The main reason is the gap between capital expectations and practical needs. While capital is willing to invest in unproven technologies, the logistics industry is very cost-conscious. Robots will only be adopted if they are cheaper than hiring workers. Current technological limitations, such as high energy consumption and lower efficiency compared to humans, need to be overcome. Once these issues are resolved and costs are reduced, logistics companies will gradually adopt robots. Many companies with inflated valuations have seen their stock prices plummet, indicating that the bubble has burst, and the industry is returning to a more pragmatic approach.
5. The crucial principle: Robots are meant to reduce workload, not to replace jobs
It’s important to remember that robots are designed to ease the workload, not to eliminate jobs. Even if robots become widely used, companies must ensure that workers are retrained for new roles with comparable compensation and benefits. Technological progress should aim to reduce the burden of tedious and hazardous tasks, not to eliminate jobs. Only by balancing profitability and employment can the logistics industry thrive in the long term.