Ren Jianguo, a Chinese technology advisor, is training the workers of the future.

　　The only difference is that they are not human.

　　“We are essentially teaching robots to think autonomously,” Mr. Ren, an overseas solutions expert at Reman Intelligent Technology, recently told CNBC at the Beijing Humanoid Robot Data Training Center.

　　Ren Zhiqiang helps operate an institution dubbed a “humanoid robot school” by Chinese state media as China seeks to expand robotics from entertainment to employment.

　　Humanoid robots are part of the Chinese Communist Party’s broader industrial strategy. Just as Beijing has listed electric vehicles and artificial intelligence as key technologies for the future, policymakers have identified humanoid robots as a priority area for China to develop by 2030 to ensure its dominance in global markets and supply chains.

　　“China’s next-generation industrial policy represents a shift from targeted industry intervention to what can be described as a ‘whole-industry policy,’” wrote a research report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and research firm Rhodium Group on May 11.

　　This Beijing center, supported by the municipal government, is part of a nationwide network of similar centers that train robots to work in a variety of scenarios.

　　Luo Fudi is one of more than 100 teachers at the school.

　　Ms. Luo, a former art teacher, now instructs her cyborg students on how to sort items on a factory assembly line. She and her colleagues use cameras, controllers, and motion capture technology to guide these AI students through tasks and have them practice repeatedly.

　　“At first, the robot has no perception, so I have to control it manually. But once my movements generate data, the robot learns and can then complete tasks autonomously,” she says.

　　These robots are trained to perform skills such as housework, massage, organizing shelves, and metal repair. Luo says they typically repeat the same actions for eight hours a day.

　　“Robots don’t know what fatigue is, but I do!” she jokes.

　　In Beijing, a city heavily investing in robotics, the startup Beijing Qichuang Robotics Technology Co., Ltd. is using motion tracking and sensors to train robotic hands.

　　Winston Zou, the company’s board secretary, told CNBC that, on average, a hand needs to be trained 10,000 times to learn a new skill.

　　Mr. Zou said, "Our current robotic arm can pick up eggs, even smaller objects, and can lift ropes."

　　In January of this year, during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call, Tesla CEO Elon Musk told investors that his Optimus humanoid robot's hand design was superior to Chinese products, calling hand design "the most difficult aspect to master to date" in robot development. However, he also acknowledged that China is actively advancing related technologies in this field.

　　"By far, our biggest competitor in the humanoid robot field will be China. China is very good at large-scale production," he said.

　　In China, training takes place not only in schools but also on the job.

　　AI robots are being tested, serving as restaurant chefs, bartenders, waiters, traffic police officers, and grocery store owners.

　　Currently, many robots still rely on human assistance, but their proponents say it's only a matter of time before robots can perform tasks independently.

　　Professor Ren stated at the center, "Our goal is to take on tasks that are dangerous for humans, or repetitive work that people are unwilling or afraid to do. We have no intention of replacing humans in any field."

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