At IO-AI Tech in Shenzhen, I saw workers control humanoid robots with VR headsets and motion-tracking gear, flipping a bird to test the tech.

Their aim: gather training data for autonomous bots that could one day stock shelves or pick items from bins. I tried my hand (and fingers) at controlling 10 different robot hands using custom gloves, mastering the art of virtual shelf-stacking with ease.

Elsewhere in the factory, people wearing VR headsets controlled tiny Unitree humanoids, mimicking everyday tasks like folding clothes. Shenzhen’s location as a hub for manufacturers makes it ideal for developing and refining such technologies, with local companies eager to automate their processes.

China's expertise in producing high-quality robots could soon see AI mastering the physical world through this remote control method. The incremental approach taken by IO-AI Tech is paving the way for more capable and general models of automation, much like self-driving cars are being deployed in various settings with increasing autonomy.