MACAO — It plays dice, reacts to wins with a thumbs up, and can learn new tasks in minutes. Meet AlphaBot 2, a humanoid robot from Shenzhen-based AI² Robotics, and one of China’s newest symbols of progress in embodied artificial intelligence — AI that’s integrated into physical bodies.

The robot recently made its public debut at Beyond Expo in Macao, where it played games with visitors using vision sensors and gesture recognition. But AlphaBot 2 is more than just a novelty act. It’s part of a major shift toward real-world, AI-powered machines that understand and interact with their surroundings.

“In the last era of robots, people had to program them,” said Yandong Guo, CEO of AI² Robotics. “Now you just tell them what to do.”

That shift is driving a nationwide race. With heavy state backing, China is investing billions in robotics research, building innovation hubs, and even launching robot schools. Over 200 companies in Shenzhen alone are developing embodied AI solutions.

🏭 From Dice Games to Industrial Work

AlphaBot 2 is already proving useful outside of tech expos. At a Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor factory, it loads materials, moves carts, and applies windshield labels — all autonomously. The robot’s strength lies in its ability to observe a task and learn quickly. According to Guo, just 5 to 10 demonstrations are enough to teach it something new.

Still, the real goal lies beyond the factory floor.

“If you want tea, the robot will know where to find a teabag, hot water, and how to pour it,” Guo says. “Afterwards, it might even clean your dishes.”

That dream is still several years away. Currently, few robots are capable of handling the messy, unpredictable nature of household life. But estimates suggest that by 2050, as many as 80 million humanoid robots could be assisting families worldwide.

🏡 ‘A Robot for Every Family’

AI² hasn't disclosed the price of AlphaBot 2, but other Chinese humanoids run close to $15,000. Guo expects costs to drop within five years to something akin to an entry-level car, putting a robot within reach of the middle class.

Challenges remain. Safety is top of mind—especially the danger of heavy robots falling. Privacy concerns around in-home data collection via cameras and microphones also persist.

Yet consumer interest in China is already strong, says Guo.

“You’d be surprised how many customers are ready to get a robot,” he says.

Harry Yang, an assistant professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, agrees that household adoption is inevitable — but at least 5 to 10 years away.

✈️ What’s Next for AlphaBot 2

In the third quarter of 2025, AlphaBot 2 will debut in Chinese airports, organizing luggage carts and assisting travelers. Within three to five years, it could be ready for senior care facilities, Guo says.

But this transition will require massive data collection, teaching robots the type of everyday “common sense” most people take for granted.

“We’re still learning,” Guo says. “But our dream is simple — one robot for every family.”