A trainer supervises the training of a humanoid robot in a logistics scenario at the Qingdao Humanoid Robot Data and Training Center in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, March 23, 2026.
With the rapid development of embodied artificial intelligence (AI), a new profession - trainers of embodied AI - has emerged, which comprise roles such as data collectors and data annotators.
Jinan and Qingdao in Shandong Province have established robot data collection and training centers tailored to various scenarios.
Equipped with simulated workshops replicating real-world environments such as automotive manufacturing, 3-C factories, logistics, retailing, and household care-giving, these centers allow trainers to guide robots one on one through tasks like grasping, identifying, walking, and delivering. Trainers resort to VR devices for demonstration, precise calibration, and data recording.
Through thousands of repetitions and corrections, massive amounts of real machine data are generated, making embodied AI increasingly smart and capable of service in all walks of life. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
Trainers supervise the training of a humanoid robot at the Qingdao Humanoid Robot Data and Training Center in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, March 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
A trainer supervises the training of a humanoid robot in a catering delivery scenario at the Qingdao Humanoid Robot Data and Training Center in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, March 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
A trainer supervises the training of a humanoid robot in an automotive manufacturing scenario at a data training center for embodied AI in Pingyin County, east China's Shandong Province, April 21, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)
A trainer supervises the training of a humanoid robot in a warehouse scenario at a public training center for embodied AI in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
A trainer supervises the training of a humanoid robot in an automotive manufacturing scenario at a data training center for embodied AI in Pingyin County, east China's Shandong Province, April 21, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)
A trainer supervises the training of a humanoid robot in a domestic cleaning scenario at a data training center for embodied AI in Pingyin County, east China's Shandong Province, April 21, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)
A trainer supervises the training of a humanoid robot in an assembly line scenario at a public training center for embodied AI in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
A trainer supervises the training of a humanoid robot in an industrial patrol scenario at a public training center for embodied AI in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
A trainer processes newly collected data at a public training center for embodied AI in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
A trainer supervises the training of a humanoid robot in a domestic cleaning scenario at a data training center for embodied AI in Pingyin County, east China's Shandong Province, April 21, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)
A trainer communicates with her colleague at a data training center for embodied AI in Pingyin County, east China's Shandong Province, April 21, 2026. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)
A trainer supervises the training of a humanoid robot in a domestic tidy-up scenario at the Qingdao Humanoid Robot Data and Training Center in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, March 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
A trainer supervises the training of a robot in a parking garage scenario at a public training center for embodied AI in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
A trainer tests an exoskeleton robot for adult users at Qingdao Training Center for Elderly Care Robots in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, April 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
Trainers supervise the training of a humanoid robot in an automotive manufacturing scenario at the Qingdao Humanoid Robot Data and Training Center in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, March 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)
