'Dancing robot' in India shows how China's exports are reaching new markets

A sandwich shop in Ujjain, India, recently attracted attention online after a humanoid robot arrived at its opening ceremony accompanied by security guards and danced to music in front of a crowd. A report by the Economic Times described it as a “Chinese Unitree robot.”

Some reports suggested that the robot had been rebadged by Indian firm Bidyut Innovations, although details surrounding the arrangement remain unclear. The footage has sparked discussion not only in India but also in China. Some Chinese social media users were surprised by the robot’s celebrity-like reception, particularly given the presence of security guards.

From a marketing perspective, inviting a robot to the opening ceremony proved to be a successful idea. The dancing humanoid robot turned an ordinary opening event into an online talking point, boosting the shop’s visibility. Some Chinese internet users noted that the robot’s performance added excitement to the ceremony. Regardless of where the robot came from, one point is worth noting: the robot’s “Indian dance” highlighted growing public interest in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. This interest could encourage further exploration of robotics applications in commercial and everyday settings. If humanoid robots find more applications in India’s commercial spaces and public environments, they could encourage wider adoption of new technologies and create new opportunities for related industries.