🦾 China pushes for robots that can think and feel by 2027

Plus: First plasma at Japanese fusion reactor, robot finds giant reef, and first ammonia-powered container ship. China has announced an ambitious new roadmap towards an economy supported by humanoid robots. As early as 2025, advanced androids made in China could walk among us. The nation seeks to close the gap with rival robotics powers like the US. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has set out five essential tasks and goals to achieve in both 2025 and 2027. This drive signals a new front in the ongoing technological race between the world's top two economies. China already aims to lead the world in disruptive technologies like AI and quantum computing. Now, humanoid robots are added to their list. Learn more about the breadth and depth of China’s ambition in today’s [Must Read](. Good morning. I’m Shubhangi, the editorial assistant at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let's kick off the weekend. 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By 2027, China wants the robots to be capable of thinking, learning, and innovating. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released guidance to foster startups, set standards, train talent, and build a supply chain. This signals China's push into advanced robotics, where US firms like Tesla and Boston Dynamics currently lead. The technology could eventually take over dangerous jobs and provide services. The production quality should meet global standards for large-scale manufacturing. The plan outlines tasks for breakthroughs, products, applications, industry ecology, and capacity building. With national backing, humanoid robots are expected to drive economic growth across sectors. Click below to learn more about China’s new focus on robotics. [[Read More]( [Innovation]( [🇯🇵 Japan Activates World's Largest Fusion Reactor]( Japan has reached a milestone in fusion energy research. The country's new reactor, JT-60SA, achieved its first plasma on October 26th, proving it can heat hydrogen fuel to 200 million degrees Celsius. This reactor will help develop the technology needed for ITER, an international effort building an even larger fusion reactor in France. JT-60SA provides key data on optimizing plasma stability and control. Its success brings us one step closer to fusion becoming a viable clean energy source. Learn more about this breakthrough. [[Read More]( [Science]( [🪸 14,700 feet robot discovers reef bigger than 8 football fields]( Researchers aboard the vessel Falkor used the SuBastian remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to find two healthy coral reefs near the Galápagos Islands at depths of 370 to 420 meters. This discovery, made possible by the ROV's deep-sea exploration capabilities, enhances our knowledge of deep reefs within the Galápagos Islands Marine Reserve. [[Read More]( [Transportation]( [⛴️ World’s first ammonia-fueled container ship to launch by 2026]( Norwegian company Yara International, in collaboration with North Sea Container Line, is developing the world's first ammonia-powered container ship, Yara Eyde, set to operate between Oslo, Brevik, Hamburg, and Bremerhaven by 2026. This initiative aims to address the climate crisis by reducing emissions and follows the success of the Yara Birkeland, the world's first self-driving electric container ship. [[Read More]( QUESTION OF THE DAY What’s the most exciting aspect of China’s plans for humanoid robots? [Social impacts of helpful humanoid robots]( [Creation of a domestic robotics industry]( [Robots that can think and innovate by 2027]( [Development of lifelike robots by 2025]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we reported on ENG8’s claim that its device produced more energy than it used, and 61 percent saw this as a sign that their catalytic water approach could be the first to become commercially viable. 61% ENG8’s catalytic water fusion 18% Tokamak reactors (e.g. ITER) 13% Magneto-inertial fusion (e.g. Helion Energy) 8% Inertial confinement fusion (e.g. NIF) “Neurons in the brain are very much like extremely spoiled children. They need oxygen and they need sugar, and they need them now. 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