Eliza Wong
Why China Holds a Systemic Edge in Embodied Intelligence
Wang He, founder and CTO of Galaxy General Robotics and a respected scholar at Zhiyuan, recently made a striking claim during an interview with Phoenix Finance’s ‘Cover Story’: China has achieved systemic superiority over the United States in the field of embodied intelligence. This advantage isn’t just about isolated technological breakthroughs—it stems from China’s unique ability to integrate the entire innovation chain, from components and hardware to data, models, and real-world applications.
This perspective aligns with comments from the founder of U.S.-based OneX, who openly admitted that China’s robotics supply chain is unmatched globally. As the race for advanced robotics and AI embodiment accelerates, understanding China’s holistic approach offers critical insights into the future of global tech competition.
Defining Embodied Intelligence and Its Importance
Embodied intelligence refers to AI systems that interact with the physical world through a robotic body. Unlike software-only AI, these systems must perceive, learn, and act in real environments—making them far more complex to develop and deploy.
This technology has profound implications for industries like manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and even domestic services. As Wang He emphasizes, success in embodied intelligence depends not just on algorithms, but on seamless integration across hardware, software, supply chains, and practical use-cases.
Key Elements of Embodied Intelligence Systems
– Perception and sensing capabilities
– Real-time data processing and adaptation
– Physical actuation and mobility
– Integration with operational environments
China’s Closed-Loop Advantage in Robotics
One of Wang He’s central arguments is that China possesses a ‘closed-loop’ capability that the U.S. currently lacks. This means that Chinese companies can control and optimize every stage of development—something that significantly accelerates innovation and implementation.
From sourcing components and designing hardware to gathering embodied data, training AI models, and deploying products at scale, China’s integrated industrial ecosystem allows for rapid iteration and cost efficiency. This end-to-end control is something that U.S. firms, with their more fragmented supply chains and reliance on overseas manufacturing, struggle to replicate.
Supply Chain Superiority
China’s dominance in electronics and hardware manufacturing provides a foundational advantage. With robust local sourcing for sensors, chips, actuators, and structural parts, companies like Galaxy General Robotics can prototype and scale faster and more affordably than Western counterparts.
As the OneX founder noted, China’s robotics supply chain is simply unmatchable in its depth and responsiveness. This isn’t just about cost—it’s about accessibility, flexibility, and speed.
Contrasting Approaches: China vs. the U.S.
Wang He highlights a fundamental divergence in how China and the U.S. approach embodied intelligence. Chinese companies, he says, are focused on practical implementation and commercial viability. In contrast, many U.S. firms remain in a research-driven, demo-oriented phase.
He cites Boston Dynamics as a prime example: despite decades of groundbreaking research and viral videos, the company has yet to commercialize humanoid robots at scale. Its achievements are technologically impressive but remain confined to labs and controlled environments.
Mindset and Priorities
Wang argues that China treats robotics with greater seriousness and urgency, supported by government policies, industrial demand, and vast real-world testing scenarios. The U.S., meanwhile, benefits from strong venture capital funding but often lacks the pressure or incentive to transition from research to revenue-generating products.
This difference in mindset shapes everything from R&D spending to partnership strategies. Chinese companies are incentivized to solve immediate, tangible problems—whether on factory floors or in warehouses—while U.S. firms often pursue longer-term, more speculative innovations.
Case Study: Galaxy General Robotics
Galaxy General Robotics exemplifies China’s embodied intelligence ethos. Rather than chasing flashy demos, the company focuses on building robots that perform reliably in dynamic settings. Their work spans from industrial arms to mobile platforms capable of navigation and manipulation.
Key to their approach is the use of real-world data to train and refine models. This emphasis on embodied learning—where AI improves through physical interaction—ensures that their systems can handle unpredictability and complexity.
Implications for the Global AI Race
Wang He’s observations suggest that the U.S.-China competition in AI is entering a new phase. While the U.S. continues to lead in certain areas of fundamental research and algorithmic innovation, China is pulling ahead in applied AI—especially where hardware integration and scalability are concerned.
This has broad implications for trade, policy, and global tech leadership. As embodied intelligence becomes more critical to economic and military applications, national strategies around AI development and supply chain resilience will gain even greater importance.
Will the U.S. Respond?
Wang acknowledges that the U.S. isn’t likely to collapse in this race. Its deep-pocketed venture ecosystem can sustain long-term R&D even in the absence of immediate commercialization. However, he believes that without a more integrated industrial strategy, the U.S. may struggle to keep pace with China’s end-to-end capabilities.
The Path Forward for Embodied Intelligence
The embodied intelligence landscape is still evolving, but China’s systemic advantages position it strongly for the next decade. Companies like Galaxy General Robotics aren’t just building robots—they’re building ecosystems, partnerships, and data flywheels that compound over time.
For other countries and companies to compete, they’ll need to rethink innovation models, invest in supply chain sovereignty, and prioritize real-world deployment over theoretical prowess. The era of embodied intelligence isn’t just about who has the best algorithms—it’s about who can best put those algorithms to work in the physical world.
As Wang He concludes, China’s lead in embodied intelligence is systemic, sustainable, and significant. For policymakers, investors, and technologists worldwide, understanding this shift is essential to navigating the future of global AI competition.
Ready to dive deeper? Watch the full interview with Wang He on Phoenix Cover Story to explore more insights on embodied intelligence and China’s rising role in shaping tomorrow’s technology.
