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American AI and robotics firms told Congress they want firm action to stop Chinese robotics firms from undercutting the market and handing America a security problem. Lawmakers heard warnings that China is sprinting ahead in humanoid robots—small, mobile machines built to work alongside people—and that this shift has real economic and national security consequences. The testimony called for immediate policy responses to protect supply chains, sensitive technology, and the people who will work around these machines.
Witnesses appeared before the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee and painted a picture of rapid technological change. They described humanoid robots that are no longer clumsy curiosities but increasingly capable platforms that can operate in factories, warehouses, and public spaces. The concern was not just about sales or market share but about how quickly these systems are improving and how little visibility regulators have into that growth.
Max Fenkell of Scale AI pointed to a viral Unitree Robotics clip where humanoid machines performed acrobatics and martial arts at a celebration, and he noted the speed of that progress—what these robots could not do a year ago they can do now. He cautioned that if the U.S. focuses only on narrow competition metrics it risks “winning the wrong race.” That line landed because it captures a wider worry: technological leadership means little if it creates vulnerabilities or hands strategic advantages to rivals.
Rep. Vince Fong highlighted concrete security gaps discovered in some Chinese-made robots, including software weaknesses that could expose camera feeds or permit remote control. Those same devices were reported to be sending operational data back to servers located in China, a pattern that raises both corporate espionage and national security red flags. When machines gather visuals, movement patterns, and logistical details, that data becomes a potential intelligence asset and a vector for exploitation.
Matthew Malchano, vice president at Boston Dynamics, warned the subcommittee that Unitree is not an isolated case and that China has dozens of similar firms pursuing the same goals. He described a coordinated push, supported by national strategy and funding, to weave AI-powered robotics into manufacturing, logistics, construction, and other major industries. That scale of intent and coordination suggests market disruption is tied to state policy rather than just healthy private competition.
American robotics leaders urged concrete steps: prevent federal agencies from buying high-risk foreign robots, set strict federal standards for hardware and software security, and create a bipartisan congressional commission to oversee robotic integration. These proposals focused on practical protections—supply chain vetting, mandatory security certifications, and oversight to keep sensitive operations off foreign-controlled systems. The aim is to preserve U.S. industrial capability while closing obvious channels that could be abused.
China’s state-run Global Times dismissed those concerns as “mounting anxiety and envy,” and accused U.S. firms of hiding behind security arguments to shield themselves from competition. That response is predictable but it does not address the technical vulnerabilities and data flows that were documented in testimony. Political spin cannot erase the practical problem of devices tied to foreign infrastructure and the potential for misuse.
Lawmakers and industry veterans also drew historical parallels to earlier fights over drones, solar panels, and electric vehicles, where cheap production and state support shifted global markets fast. They pointed to a recent controversy over an AI system that, when scrutinized, showed heavy reliance on code and models originating elsewhere as a cautionary tale about apparent breakthroughs. These examples underline why Republicans in Congress are pressing for tougher guardrails now—competition matters, but so does protecting the country from avoidable risks.