I hired a humanoid robot to help clean my home. An auntie did most of the chores

A humanoid robot named Quanta X1 Pro was sent to a Shenzhen home in March as part of a new cleaning service testing its abilities in real-world environments. The robot, 1.6 meters tall with mechanical arms, performed basic tasks like straightening chairs, picking up shoes, and folding laundry, but required frequent human intervention. It failed to handle wet surfaces, struggled with full garbage bags, and moved slowly, while the human housekeeper, Aunty Tan, completed all other cleaning duties, including dishes, kitchen scrubbing, and mopping. The service costs 149 yuan (S$28) for three hours and is available in Shenzhen and Beijing, with companies aiming to gather data from diverse homes to accelerate robot training. An engineer monitored the robot’s progress, stepping in to fix technical issues like loose wires and connectivity problems. Despite its limitations, the service highlights China’s push for robots to assist with household chores amid an aging workforce and declining birth rates. Quanta’s performance revealed challenges in autonomous cleaning, such as ignoring tools like a detergent bottle and leaving messes like breadcrumbs. Aunty Tan criticized the robot, stating, 'Humans are still better at cleaning.' Experts suggest fully functional home robots capable of independent operation remain at least a decade away due to ongoing data and technical hurdles. The trial underscores the gap between current robot capabilities and practical household use, with companies relying on real-world testing to refine algorithms. While the robot demonstrated basic task execution, its reliance on human support underscored the need for further development before widespread adoption.