BEIJING - Robots once seen only in science fiction are becoming part of everyday life in China, appearing on streets, inside pharmacies, and in retail stores as companies push automation beyond traditional factories.
From improving accuracy in medicine distribution to speeding up deliveries, robots are reshaping how people shop, work, and interact with technology.
In pharmacies, automated systems are reducing human errors while operating around the clock. Wang Bing, a pharmacy manager, said the technology has already replaced some staff and significantly improved efficiency.
“Our store operates 24 hours a day and has replaced two employees. Over the past eight months, we’ve witnessed astonishing speed and precision,” Wang told Rudaw. “Currently, our accuracy rate is 99.99 percent, and in the future, we will reach 100 percent. Our goal is for the robots to eventually restock the products themselves.”
For delivery workers, robots are becoming a tool to save time and improve efficiency. Courier Zhao Lei said the machines can complete tasks faster than humans.
“This robot is faster and more efficient than a human. You just enter the code, and it gives you your item,” Zhao said. “There’s no need for wait times or packaging; it prepares your products for you directly.”
Technology firms are now expanding robotic systems into homes, shops, and warehouses. Yuan Yidan, brand manager of Galaxy General Overseas Market, said their Galbot G1 system is already being used widely across China.
“Galbot G1 is already operating in almost 200 Galbot stores in over 30 cities across China, and it also handles the material boxes and material beans in factories and warehouses,” Yuan said.
Despite concerns that robots could replace human workers, experts say human interaction remains valuable. Li Zhuo Yang, a technology company representative, said automation will continue to grow, but cannot fully replace human connection.
“In the future, this will become the mainstream trend and replace manual labor, which will liberate humans from repetitive tasks,” Li said. “However, it must be said that there is still a greater sense of comfort in working with other humans.”
