cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/9323702

Silicon Valley startups are flying to China and buying robot parts, putting them into their luggage, and flying back.

Meanwhile, the Trump Administration has enacted import bans on new humanoid robots, to protect the American AI industry, and the nascent supply chains for robots.

Tesla is far along in its development for the Optimus humanoid robot, with deep relationships with Chinese components vendors, who are not under the new restrictions.

The Optimus is unlikely to challenge Chinese robot makers, who have far lower costs and stronger use cases and industrial applications across Asia.

But Tesla may have the humanoid market to itself in North America and Europe, because of its China-focused supply chains and protection from those same firms selling in Western markets.