Traditional home appliances might be cooling down, but China’s biggest players—Midea, Haier, and Hisense—are heating things up with humanoid robotics.

Over the next three years, Midea alone plans to invest ¥50 billion (≈$7 billion) in next-gen technologies like AI and robots. The goal? Create machines smart enough to handle tasks that go far beyond the factory floor—including elder care and household chores.

🔧 **What’s holding them back?** 
Building a capable humanoid isn’t just plug-and-play. It demands breakthroughs in five tech arenas: batteries, chips, motors, software, and mechanical systems. Plus, it takes enormous data to train them properly—teaching robots to clean your kitchen isn’t easy!

📉 **Why the shift?** 
Sluggish appliance sales are pushing companies to rethink growth. By leveraging their strengths in sensors, motors, and supply chains—plus access to millions of users’ home data—they’re positioning themselves to lead the next wave of home service innovation.

💬 “We’re still at square one,” says industry consultant Luo Qingqi. “But home service robots could become a game-changing growth curve.”

📅 **2030 and beyond** 
Experts predict these intelligent assistants won’t be mainstream until after 2030. Only companies with tightly integrated tech, clear real-world uses, and tight cost controls will come out on top.