China tests AI robot cleaners in homes
China is testing AI-powered cleaning robots in Beijing apartments, where they assist human cleaners, but experts cite safety, privacy, and skill gaps as barriers to wider use.
China has launched a pilot program testing AI-powered cleaning robots in households, with trials underway in Beijing apartments where the machines work alongside human cleaners. Lin Meiqiong, a 56-year-old cleaner, says the robot makes her job slightly easier, though it still requires close human supervision.
The robot, part of a service operated by 58.com in collaboration with X Square, uses cameras and mechanical arms to pick up trash and fold clothes. It can identify mess in real time but still struggles with basic dexterity. Engineers say the robot is being tested in real homes in Beijing and Shenzhen to collect data for future AI systems, rather than as a finished product.
Since March, about 200 households have tried the service, paying 149 yuan for three hours. Developers aim to train embodied AI in everyday settings. However, experts note that wider adoption is limited by concerns over safety, privacy, and the current gap between human and robot skill levels.
