With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, finding suitable intelligent carriers has become a global priority. Humanoid robots, capable of running and dancing, have already taken center stage.
As embodied intelligence develops rapidly, humanoid robots are transitioning from lab demonstrations to commercial applications, marking a new phase in the industry. The *2024 Humanoid Robot Industry Development Research Report* by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology highlights that humanoid robots, integrating AI and mechanical engineering, hold vast potential in manufacturing, social services, and specialized operations. By 2035, China’s humanoid robot market is projected to reach hundreds of billions of yuan.
However, as technology advances and applications grow more complex, risks diversify, creating an urgent need for insurance solutions. Driven by policy guidance and market demand, insurers are swiftly entering this emerging sector.
Since September, major insurers like Ping An Property & Casualty, CPIC Property & Casualty, and PICC Property & Casualty have introduced specialized insurance products for embodied intelligence, covering robot damage, third-party liability, cybersecurity, and data breaches. Discussions on risk management, ethical boundaries, and data sharing are also intensifying.
In this multi-billion-yuan blue ocean, insurance is not just a risk mitigation tool but also a strategic enabler for industry growth.
**Breaking Barriers: From "Fear of Use" to "Confident Adoption"** The reluctance to use robots—due to concerns about damage, high costs, and liability—remains a bottleneck for large-scale adoption. In response, insurers are innovating risk coverage for future technologies.
On September 26, CPIC Property & Casualty’s Ningbo branch launched *"Ji Zhi Bao"*, China’s first insurance product tailored for commercial humanoid robots. It integrates coverage for robot damage, third-party liability, and property loss, offering flexible policies by day, week, or month for exhibitions, short-term rentals, and events.
Similarly, PICC Property & Casualty introduced *"Embodied Intelligence Comprehensive Insurance"*, combining robot damage and third-party liability coverage. It includes natural disasters, collisions, cybersecurity incidents, and operational failures, while addressing scenarios like delivery robots injuring pedestrians or surgical robots causing medical errors.
Ping An Property & Casualty’s *"Embodied Intelligence Financial Solution"* merges insurance with tech and capital support, forming a full-cycle ecosystem.
These products are moving from theory to practice. In August, PICC provided tailored coverage for robots at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. In July, PICC insured a Ningbo-based humanoid robot parts manufacturer with a ¥4 million policy, while Dajia Insurance covered exoskeleton robots for defects causing injuries or property damage.
**Key Risks in Application Scenarios** Humanoid robots, with human-like perception and movement, are poised for roles in social services, such as hospitality, security, and caregiving. The *"uncanny valley"* concept suggests that when robots appear almost human, users may trust them more, enhancing their value in emotional support.
However, risks span three dimensions: personal safety, property damage, and liability disputes. For example, a hotel robot might collide with a guest, an industrial robot could damage equipment, or a medical robot might misdiagnose a patient.
Zhang Xinyuan of Kefangde Think Tank notes that humanoid robots integrate multiple modules—mechanical, electronic, AI, sensors—where a single failure can trigger chain reactions. Liability may involve hardware suppliers, software developers, or end-users.
Economist Yu Fenghui emphasizes that insurers must collaborate with tech firms to analyze risks and embed coverage throughout a robot’s lifecycle.
**Challenges in a Rapidly Evolving Market** Robot technology evolves every three months, outpacing traditional insurance models. Frequent policy adjustments risk destabilizing the market, requiring a balance between agility and consistency.
The *2024 Humanoid Robot Industry Development Research Report* forecasts that by 2035–2040, humanoid robots will enter the *"scenario intelligence"* phase, with industrial applications scaling and service roles expanding. By 2045, over 100 million robots could permeate industries, creating a market exceeding ¥10 trillion.
Despite this potential, the industry faces unprecedented risks—complexity, integration, and interaction—surpassing traditional machinery. Wu Wei of Digital China PR notes that specialized insurance is critical, akin to auto insurance, to mitigate risks like damage or accidents post-delivery.
**Insurance as a Catalyst for Growth** While insurance can mitigate risks, the lack of historical data complicates pricing. Unlike auto insurance, which uses driver behavior and vehicle data, robot insurance lacks such benchmarks.
Cyber insurance, data liability coverage, and business interruption insurance are also essential, as networked robots face hacking risks like data breaches or malicious control—exposures traditional policies don’t address.
Government support is accelerating. China’s 2025 policy emphasizes AI-driven robotics, while regulators pledge to develop insurance for emerging tech. Local incentives, like Ningbo’s 80% premium subsidies for robot insurance, further reduce costs.
**Ethical and Regulatory Hurdles** As robots gain decision-making autonomy, ethical dilemmas arise: Should malfunctions be treated as product defects or *"human-like"* errors? Discrimination in AI code or safety lapses could violate ethical norms.
Jiang Zhiyuan of Ping An highlights that defining robots as property or quasi-human entities impacts insurance design. Industry collaboration is needed to establish standards, risk databases, and dynamic pricing models.
Looking ahead, human-robot interaction will deepen, but risks and ethics must keep pace. Insurance, though invisible, remains the safety net enabling innovation.