Hainan, March 27, 2026 — While the world debates how strictly to regulate humanoid robots, China’s top tech executives are sending a clear message: regulate alongside development, not before it.
During a high-profile panel at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026, industry leaders openly discussed the ethical dilemma: Are humans becoming mere data sources for training the next generation of humanoid robots?
Shen Dou, Executive Vice President of Baidu and President of Baidu AI Cloud Group, stated:
“We should design mechanisms and consider risks, but we can only start worrying after we have developed the technology. Otherwise, that day will never come.”
He advocated for a “small steps, fast iteration” approach — developing regulation in parallel with the technology rather than waiting for perfect rules that could slow innovation.
Shao Hao, Head of the Robot Lab and Chief Scientist at Vivo, was more cautious about current safety limitations. He admitted that while companies are building hardware safeguards (such as emergency stop mechanisms), gaps still remain:
“You cannot directly order a robot to pick up a knife and hurt someone. But I can indirectly instruct it to grab the handle of a knife and move quickly to a specific location — which could cause indirect harm.”
Beijing Prepares World’s Largest Humanoid Half-Marathon
The discussion comes just weeks before one of the most ambitious real-world tests of humanoid technology yet: the 2026 Beijing E-Town Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon on April 19.
Organizers confirmed that more than 300 humanoid robots from over 100 teams (companies and universities) will run alongside human participants over the full 21 km course. It is being positioned as a major national showcase and testing ground for China’s rapidly advancing robotics sector.
What This Means for the Global AI & Humanoid Industry
The Boao Forum statements reflect China’s broader strategy: accelerate development first, refine regulation later. This “iteration-first” mindset stands in contrast to more cautious approaches in the US and Europe, where calls for strict preemptive rules are growing louder.
For the AI companion and humanoid space, the message is clear: China is betting heavily on physical AI and is willing to accept calculated risks to stay ahead.
Your Turn
Do you believe we should regulate humanoid robots and AI companions before or after the technology matures? Is it acceptable to treat human-generated data as raw material for training robots, or does this cross an ethical line?
Write your honest opinion in the comments — the most interesting responses will be featured in our next article!
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Sources (March 2026):
- Strait Times – “Are humans becoming data for robots? Questions remain as China makes advances in sector” (March 26, 2026)
- China Daily – “Humanoid robots pivot to real-world use” (March 26, 2026)
- Xinhua / Global Times – Coverage of Boao Forum humanoid robotics panel (March 25–26, 2026)
- Interesting Engineering – Reports on Shen Dou and Shao Hao statements + Beijing half-marathon details
- South China Morning Post – Beijing E-Town Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon announcement