Humanoid robot soldiers likely only 5-10 years away, one developer behind China's robotics boom tells CBS News - CBS News
But not much further down the road, he said, they will also "do some combat, and go to the military, and do other things." In: Technology humanoid War Xi Jinping Robot United States Military China Drone Science #### Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt's running...
Key takeaways
- China remains the global leader in humanoid robotics, accounting for roughly 90 percent of shipments last year and dominating the high‑profile World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, where a Beijing‑based “Tiangong Ultra” model sprinted 100 metres in 9.39 seconds—faster than Usain Bolt’s record—and shattered the 400‑metre record with a time of about 38.15 seconds.
- The Games, featuring over 2,000 robots from 666 teams across 16 countries, are being used as a showcase for both athletic feats and emerging applications in factories, homes and even potential military roles; a developer at the event told CBS News that fully autonomous humanoid soldiers could appear within five to ten years.
- Meanwhile, Silicon Valley’s Actuate conference highlighted a hardware shortage exacerbated by recent FCC restrictions on foreign‑made advanced robotic devices, prompting U.S. manufacturers to call for domestic supply chains while investors poured a record $15 billion into robotics globally in 2025 and another $18.8 billion so far in 2026.
- Analysts project the worldwide humanoid market could be worth $7.5 trillion by 2050, with China’s domestic market expected to reach $2.2 billion this year and grow at least 60 percent into 2027 as mass production ramps up.
- Despite the excitement, many experts caution that true general‑purpose, human‑like robots remain years away and that commercial viability will hinge on scaling hardware and delivering practical, non‑spectacle use cases.
But not much further down the road, he said, they will also "do some combat, and go to the military, and do other things."
In:
Technology humanoid War Xi Jinping Robot United States Military China Drone Science
Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt's running record
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Chrome Safari Continue "That's what we really want to do as we can make sure people in the world will not be attacked," he said. "We will use the robots to show the power of a country like China that will ensure no other country would attack. This will prevent war."
When CBS News asked Yang if robots could become evil — the Terminator movies are starting to feel a little too real — he shook his head.
"No, I don't think so. Robots don't have emotion, only humans," he said. "It all depends on who controls them and who makes them."
Ukraine, U.S. move toward landmark drone deal as Iran war highlights capabilities, necessities # Humanoid robot soldiers likely only 5-10 years away, one developer behind China's robotics boom tells CBS News
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Anna Coren
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Anna Coren, CBS News foreign correspondent based in Hong Kong, is an Emmy Award-winning international correspondent who covers the Asia-Pacific region.
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Beijing — How long before China is ready to deploy humanoid robot soldiers?
That question is on the minds of many of the humans gathered in Beijing right now to watch the World Humanoid Robot Games, and as smashed records highlight the dizzying pace of advancement, one developer tells CBS News the answer is likely less than a decade.
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