Short-term rental boom puts humanoid robots to work on short gigs

Recently, humanoid robots are becoming commonplace at commercial events, corporate gatherings, and cultural celebrations across China.

- By XU PEIYU, ZHU YINGXI

Citizens interact with a robot on a square in Kunshan, east China's Jiangsu province.

(Photo/Yuan Xinyu)

These versatile machines transition seamlessly between roles — greeting guests one day and performing on stage the next — busily taking on short-term engagements in what's now known as the "robot gig economy."

The launch of specialized rental platforms has transformed this concept from experimentation to scalable application. Industry analysts note this model lowers adoption barriers, expands use cases, and drives product refinement, service standardization, and supply chain development — creating multiple emerging trends.

Robotics firms AgiBot and Flycode have jointly launched a rental platform featuring scenario-specific packages. A festive celebration bundle, priced at 2,500 yuan ($358.87) daily, includes two humanoid robots and a robotic dog for guest interactions and performances. Custom options are available for corporate events, mall promotions, sports competitions, trade shows, concerts, and tourism services.

According to an AgiBot executive, current rentals focus on emotional engagement and interactive experiences, primarily driving foot traffic, enhancing live events, and providing tech-themed activations. Market-based pricing ranges from hundreds to tens of thousands of yuan daily, varying by model and duration.