Elon Musk Warns: China May Overtake U.S. in Humanoid Robotics Amid CES 2026 Showcase
Las Vegas: Tesla CEO Elon Musk has expressed growing concern over China’s dominance in the humanoid robotics sector, a worry that was further fueled by innovations displayed at CES 2026. During a conference call in April 2025, Musk warned that the U.S. could fall behind in the global race for humanoid robots due to affordable, mass-produced Chinese models.
Chinese Companies Lead the Way
At CES 2026, Chinese robotics firms showcased a wide range of humanoid robots performing tasks such as table tennis, floor cleaning, and kung fu practice. Musk, while acknowledging the performance edge of Tesla’s Optimus robots, noted that he feared the leaderboard from ranks 2 to 10 would be dominated by Chinese companies.
One standout company, AgiBot, introduced its next-generation simulation pla...









