China’s National Data Administration (NDA) is developing a regulatory framework for embodied AI, focusing on standards for data collection, labeling, storage, and sharing. The agency also plans to provide guidance to local authorities on data governance to support the commercialization of humanoid robots.
The initiative complements existing efforts by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which released a national standards framework on February 28, 2026. Additionally, an industry benchmarking standard for embodied AI systems became effective on June 1, 2026.
Companies in the sector are currently developing over 1 million hours of datasets to train robots in physical interactions. The government aims to standardize these data protocols to help firms pool resources and reduce redundant efforts, particularly for smaller market participants.
The National Development and Reform Commission introduced measures in late August 2026 to establish dedicated training and testing grounds. These facilities are designed to support the government's goal of achieving significant progress in the commercial deployment of embodied AI by the end of 2026.
