China's robot makers display latest humanoid robots at conference in Beijing | AP News
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Key takeaways
- The most recent developments in humanoid robotics show rapid advances in both performance and commercial interest.
- In mid‑August, Chinese firm Unitree Robotics unveiled a new humanoid that can leap two metres vertically and run at 12.66 m s⁻¹, breaking human records for standing high‑jump and sprint speed, and the company reported having produced roughly 18,000 bipedal units to date.
- The same week Unitree’s Shanghai STAR‑market debut sent its shares soaring—up more than 600 % at one point and closing 460 % above the IPO price—while its founder warned that a “ChatGPT moment” for embodied AI may still be a decade away, noting current challenges in task generalisation and precise movement.
- At the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, several companies demonstrated humanoids engaging in full‑contact sparring, kickboxing, ping‑pong and autonomous dance routines, underscoring a shift from scripted showcases to dynamic, real‑time interaction.
- The concurrent World Humanoid Robot Games highlighted fully autonomous competitions in sports, art and practical applications, with a forecast of 50,000 Chinese humanoid shipments this year, up from 12,000 in 2025.
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Video
China’s robot makers display latest humanoid robots at conference in Beijing
China kicked off the 2026 World Robot Conference with companies showcasing the country’s expanding robotics industry. Organizers say around 3,000 products will be showcased. Some of the humanoids danced, and one even played ping pong with a human opponent. (AP video: Wayne Zhang and Wu Jia) - Iran war
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- Russia-Ukraine war
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- Asia Pacific
- Latin America
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- Immigration
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- Congress
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- The latest AP-NORC polls
- Sports
- NFL
- College football
- Top 25 Poll
- MLB
- NBA
- WNBA
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