Within a decade, humanoid robots could become as common in American homes and workplaces as smartphones are today. They will cook meals, care for elderly relatives, assist doctors, stock warehouses, and perform dangerous jobs that humans would rather avoid. As artificial intelligence continues to merge with the physical world, these machines may become one of the most transformative technologies of the century.
But before that future arrives, the United States faces a critical question: Who will build them?
The answer carries enormous economic and national security implications. Increasingly, policymakers, industry leaders, and national security experts are warning that America risks falling behind China in the race to dominate humanoid robotics—a technology that could define the next generation of global competition.
Humanoid robots represent the next major evolution of artificial intelligence. Unlike traditional industrial robots designed for a single repetitive task, these machines are intended to learn, adapt, and perform a wide variety of functions in human environments. Their potential applications are vast.
A humanoid robot could assist a surgeon during a complex operation, care for an aging parent, work on hazardous industrial sites, clean up nuclear waste, or enter burning buildings where human lives would be at risk. Goldman Sachs has projected that the humanoid robotics market could grow into a $38 billion industry by 2035.
The economic opportunities are enormous. So are the strategic risks.
Concerns about China’s growing dominance intensified earlier this year when videos from Lunar New Year celebrations showed fleets of humanoid robots performing synchronized dances and martial arts demonstrations. While the displays captured global attention, they also highlighted how aggressively China has invested in robotics development.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has designated humanoid robotics as a strategic industry, directing significant state resources toward its expansion. Some industry estimates suggest that Chinese manufacturers already account for the vast majority of global humanoid robot production.
For many observers, the concern extends well beyond market competition.
Unlike smartphones, humanoid robots will operate inside homes, businesses, hospitals, factories, and potentially government facilities. They will rely on cameras, microphones, sensors, cloud connectivity, and continuous software updates to perform their tasks. That level of access raises concerns about privacy, cybersecurity, and foreign influence.
A smartphone may know where someone is located. A humanoid robot could potentially learn far more—daily routines, family interactions, workplace activities, and physical layouts of sensitive locations.
Those concerns become even more significant when viewed through the lens of China’s civil-military fusion strategy, which seeks to integrate commercial technological development with national defense objectives. Critics argue that technologies designed for civilian use could potentially be adapted for military or intelligence purposes.
Supporters of a stronger American robotics strategy point to the drone industry as a cautionary example. Over the past decade, Chinese manufacturers established overwhelming dominance in the commercial drone market, leaving many Western organizations dependent on foreign hardware before policymakers began addressing potential security concerns.
Now, both the Trump administration and members of Congress are signaling that they want to avoid repeating that experience with humanoid robots.
The administration is reportedly developing a national robotics strategy aimed at strengthening American leadership in the sector. Advocates argue such a strategy should include increased research funding, expanded federal procurement programs, stronger domestic supply chains, and cybersecurity standards designed to protect sensitive data.
Congress has also begun taking action. Senators Chuck Schumer and Tom Cotton recently introduced the American Security Robotics Act, a bipartisan proposal that would restrict the federal government’s use of many Chinese-manufactured humanoid robots.
Supporters describe the legislation as an important first step toward reducing potential security vulnerabilities while encouraging domestic development.
At the same time, policymakers face a difficult balancing act. Many critical components used in robotics—including motors, magnets, and other specialized parts—are still heavily sourced from overseas suppliers. Building a competitive domestic industry will likely require years of investment and careful planning.
