It’s so uncanny how culture eventually shapes the technology around us. Self-driving tech made in the USA would NEVER work in the global south or countries like India – it wouldn’t anticipate street animals or local vehicles. Similarly, tech developed for and from countries like China might be fairly global, but I did notice a big difference at the BEYOND Expo this year – an absolute multitude of humanoid robots. To be fair, this isn’t my first China expo; I visited Shanghai for CES Asia (when it was still a thing), and noticed the exact same pattern there too. While I speculate the West generally fears robots and the power they hold over humanity (look at every bit of pop culture, from Terminator to Love, Death, and Robots), the East doesn’t hold such reservations. In countries like China, Japan, and South Korea, humanoid robots thrive, working as concierges, assistants, and even talented parts of the workforce (we even saw robot musicians). So it got me asking myself – why is China obsessed with Humanoid Robots? Eyevolution’s team is committed to implanting eyes and brains into robots, creating bionic beings This East/West divergence isn’t merely aesthetic; it’s deeply cultural. In the West, robots often symbolize existential threats. From Skynet’s apocalyptic AI in “Terminator” to Ultron’s malevolent intelligence in “Avengers,” robots are frequently portrayed as harbingers of doom. Even the Decepticons in “Transformers” embody this fear. Conversely, Eastern narratives, particularly in China and Japan, depict robots as allies. Astro Boy, created by Osamu Tezuka, is a benevolent android hero. Gundams are piloted protectors, not autonomous threats. These stories foster a perception of robots as companions and protectors. However, that’s just my theory. A demo robot from SenseTime At the 2024 World Robot Conference in Beijing, over 27 different models were unveiled, showcasing the country’s commitment to leading in this sector. Officials emphasize that these robots are designed to assist, not replace, human workers, aiming to enhance productivity and undertake tasks in hazardous environments. This approach aligns with the cultural narrative of robots as helpers and protectors. This cultural lens influences real-world applications. China’s government actively promotes humanoid robotics. At the X-Humanoid innovation center in Beijing, officials emphasized that these robots aim to assist, not replace, human workers. They are designed for tasks humans find hazardous or undesirable, such as deep-sea exploration or space missions. A humaoid robot from Noetix Unitree’s G1 humanoid bot Demographics also play a role. China faces a rapidly aging population, with the number of people over 65 increasing significantly. To address the impending caregiver shortage, the government is integrating humanoid robots into eldercare. These robots can provide companionship, monitor health, and assist with daily activities, offering a solution to the demographic challenge. Eastern philosophies and religions, such as Buddhism and Taoism, often emphasize harmony between humans and their environment, including technology. This perspective supports the integration of robots into society as harmonious entities rather than disruptive forces. The concept of techno-animism, where technology is imbued with spiritual essence, further explains the comfort with humanoid robots in Eastern cultures. The AlphaBot 2 is touted as a ‘real world AGI robot’ Noetix Hobbs mimicking human expressions That philosophical outlook ends up shaping how China makes its humanoid robots. Below is Huawei’s FusionCube Chat Bot, a fun robot designed to assist and answer questions. Unitree’s G1 robot retails for $16,000 and is used in elder-care, having the robot perform human activities that the owner is too old to do or physically incapable of doing. On the other hand, some robots are made for special activities, like the Hobbs from Noetix, designed to expertly mimic human expressions – something that works great in human-like applications but also in movies and entertainment. Huawei FusionCube ChatBot The result is a society where humanoid robots are not only accepted but celebrated. At the Spring Festival Gala, robots performed traditional dances alongside humans, symbolizing this integration. In marathons, humanoid robots run alongside human participants, showcasing their capabilities and societal acceptance. China’s approach to humanoid robotics is a confluence of cultural narratives, governmental support, demographic necessity, and philosophical harmony. This multifaceted embrace positions China at the forefront of humanoid robot integration, offering a distinct contrast to Western apprehensions. Hexuan’s robots can play music with the same dexterity as a human The post Why is China Obsessed with Humanoid Robots? first appeared on Yanko Design.

Fushi Auberge / Tezuka ArchitectsSave this picture!© Kida Katsushida, FOTOTECAHotels•Akiruno, Japan Architects: Tezuka Architects Area Area of this architecture project Area:  349 m² Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2024 Photographs Photographs:Kida Katsushida, FOTOTECA Lead Architects: Takaharu Tezuka, Yui Tezuka, Keiji Yabe More SpecsLess Specs Save this picture! "Fushi" is an auberge limited to one group per day, nestled deep in the Akigawa Valley on the western edge of Tokyo. The building overlooks the confluence of the Akigawa and Bonbori Rivers. To the west is Mount Joyama, a natural mountain fortress carved by clear streams. The site has a unique landscape that could not be achieved by human power. The auberge was founded by a family that has been running Kaiseki-Ryori (Traditional Multi-course meals) restaurants for over half a century.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The building is basically made of timberworks, but the eave is held in place by a steel-framed structure, carefully designed with highly skilled modern engineering. It is a natural form that seeks the wisdom of living in the climate and culture of the Akigawa Valley.Save this picture!A heroic roof is sensibly integrated into the site. It rises 1.5 meters from the floor, designed to the eye level of the average Japanese. The eave spans 33 meters horizontally without pillars. It invites one to look toward the remarkably clear water stream with one-of-a-kind stone arrangements that can only be achieved by a million years of river erosion. The scenery of the Akigawa Valley unfolded in front of one's eye like a scroll painting.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!"Outdoor Living" is found at the heart of the building. It is an expansive outdoor deck covered with deep and low eaves, with a scroll of the Akigawa Valley landscape in front, the bamboo grove courtyard in the background, and a gentle breeze flowing through the building, fully embodying the essence of the site. Hence, the auberge is named "Fushi" (Figure of Wind), borrowed from Noh Master Zeami Motokiyo's text "Fushikaden" (The Transmission of the Flower of Acting Style). This place can also be a Noh stage, too, without a wall or pillar to define its boundaries. It changes its "setting" according to the seasons. Rain and snow also become part of the atmosphere.Save this picture!The walls are made of over 20 thousand cedar wood strips, sized 19mm, aligned in parallel with a one-millimeter gap between them. The exterior walls are made vertically in the direction of the rainfall; the interior walls are made horizontally in the direction of the breeze flow. Not a single nail is visible from the surface.Save this picture!Save this picture!There are two original fusuma paintings on two sides of a sliding screen, Dawn and Evening. Dawn is the faint glow of the moment before the sun rises, while Evening is tinted with the foreboding hues of the moment before the night falls.Save this picture!Save this picture!Recent discussions of architecture have shifted from thinking of architecture as an "object" to an "experience." However, the history of architecture is almost as long as the history of mankind, it is impossible to explain the qualities of architecture through experience and theory alone. This project reveals the intangible elements of architecture, realising the balance between experiential satisfaction and physical integrity. Experience of beauty and sublimity of architecture permeated the cuisines, ceramics, flowers, Noh, and gardens as a whole.Save this picture! Project gallerySee allShow less Project locationAddress:Akiruno, Tokyo, JapanLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officeTezuka ArchitectsOffice••• MaterialWoodMaterials and TagsPublished on May 22, 2025Cite: "Fushi Auberge / Tezuka Architects" 22 May 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1030248/fushi-tezuka-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!想浏览ArchDaily中国吗?是否 You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

During the course of developing Mario Kart World, the team making it were confronted with an important, potentially existential question: Does Mario, in fact, eat mushrooms? Meaning, do Super Mushrooms in the Mario universe need to be eaten, or simply touched to imbue Mario (and Luigi) with super powers?The answer to that question may seem obvious to you, but even 20-year Nintendo veteran Shintaro Jikumaru wondered if he really understood the delivery mechanism of a Mushroom Kingdom mushroom. Jikumaru and Mario Kart World producer Kosuke Yabuki did their due diligence on the matter, turning to Nintendo executive Takashi Tezuka for the answer. Tezuka served as assistant director on the original Super Mario Bros., and has produced or supervised dozens of Mario games since, so if anyone would know, it’s him.The Mario Kart World devs raised the question in the first place because Jikumaru was inspired to add food — hamburgers, specifically — to the new open-world Mario Kart. That required game designers to implement food-eating animations.“We thought, why don’t we have a drive-thru system where characters eat while driving, and eating makes them change outfits or transform into a different character?” Yabuki explained. “Though, it’s utterly ridiculous.”The addition of hamburgers (and other regional foods that cause wardrobe changes) to Mario Kart World forced Yabuki and Jikumaru to face a fact about the rules of the Super Mario universe. In a new Ask the Developer interview at Nintendo, they explain:Yabuki: Then, the question came up: “Does Mario, in fact, eat mushrooms?” (Laughs)Jikumaru: So in the midst of development, we went up to Tezuka-san and asked him to confirm, “Is Mario actually eating those mushrooms?”Yabuki: That’s right. And Tezuka-san answers, “Yeah, he is.”Longtime Mario fans will probably point to games like the Mario & Luigi series, where the brothers are clearly shown throwing edible power-ups into their mouths, or The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which makes it obvious that Mario eats mushrooms to unlock their effects, but touches items like Fire Flowers and Super Stars to gain their powers. Still, you can appreciate that Mario Kart World’s creators desire to be thorough, and that there’s some amount of inconsistency in the dozens of power-ups in Mario games. In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, for example, when Mario uses a Super Mushroom in a race, he is not shown eating it; instead, it is implied the mushroom is given to the kart itself, like some sort of NOS injection.But questions about which Super Mario power-ups Mario eats versus what he merely touches may be up for debate. And there are plenty of other unknowns. Consider:How does Mario consume a Mega Mushroom, which is many times his size?Are Golden Mushrooms and Drill Mushrooms actually made of metal?Does that mean Mario can digest metal? We know he can become metal.Does Mario eat the acorns that transform him into Flying Squirrel Mario?Are the royal crown and propeller hat on a Golden Dash Mushroom and a Propeller Mushroom, respectively, edible?Does a Boo Mushroom just look like a Boo? Or is it a Boo?If it’s a ghost, does Mario have a bunch of dead souls in his digestive system?What other power-ups are eaten, beyond mushrooms and fruits?What happens if Mario just, like, licked a P-Block a little bit?How upsetting is it to eat a fuzzy Bee Mushroom?You can probably tell that if I ever get an interview with Takashi Tezuka (highly unlikely after this story) I will have dozens of questions for him that he will get increasingly annoyed by.See More: