Humanoid robots sprint, play soccer and set records at Beijing games, in photos
Robots compete at the Free Combat event of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) By ACHMAD IBRAHIM Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Comments Facebook Copy Link copied...
Key takeaways
- The most recent humanoid‑robot news centers on China’s rapid advances and market activity.
- Unitree Robotics debuted on the Shanghai stock exchange in mid‑August, its shares soaring up to 629 % and giving the company a valuation of about US $66 billion.
- At the same time, Beijing hosted the second World Humanoid Robot Games, where more than 2,000 robots from 16 countries competed in track events, table tennis, soccer and real‑world tasks such as household chores and emergency rescue.
- Chinese teams set new athletic records, including a 100‑meter sprint completed in 9.39 seconds—faster than Usain Bolt’s human record—and a standing high‑jump of 2.88 metres, surpassing the human world record.
- The games also featured competitions in weightlifting, tug‑of‑war and practical scenarios like luggage delivery and library shelving.
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Robots compete at the Free Combat event of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
By ACHMAD IBRAHIM
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year]
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BEIJING (AP) — More than 2,000 humanoid robots run, play table tennis and soccer, and are setting records at the ongoing World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, highlighting China’s rapid advances in robotics amid a tech race with the United States.
Spectator looking robots perform during the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) A humanoid robot is carried off the field after competing in the 1500m run race during the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
A humanoid robot is carried off the field after competing in the 1500m run race during the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
A humanoid robot is carried off the field after competing in the 1500m run race during the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
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Humanoid robots compete in the tug of war during the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) Humanoid robots are playing soccer ahead the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Humanoid robots are playing soccer ahead the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Humanoid robots are playing soccer ahead the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
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A humanoid robot is carried off the field after competing in the 1500m run race during the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
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