At the 2026 Spring Festival Gala, held during the Year of the Horse, robots made a group appearance. From the gala stage to the streets and alleys, these “cyber workers” are now actively taking up their posts. By 2025, more than 1,500 robot rental companies had been established nationwide, representing a year-on-year increase of 48.1%. From factories to markets, rental services have become the “first stop” for robots entering people’s lives. Li Yiyan, founder of Qingtianzu, stated: “Between March and May 2025, the daily rental price for a robot was approximately 10,000 to 20,000 yuan. Prices have since dropped significantly; now, you can rent a robot for around 3,000 yuan.” Li added that from the first to the seventh day of the Lunar New Year this year, robot rental orders increased by nearly 70% compared to the previous period. (CCTV Finance)