Humanoids break records at Beijing Robot Games

Humanoid robots shone at the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, breaking several world records and captivating spectators. Dozens of robots and their human operators participated in events ranging from athletics and boxing to football and martial arts. China showcased its technological prowess by showcasing faceless humanoid robots at the Olympic speed skating arena.

A Chinese robot named Tiangong Ultra broke the 100-meter world record, finishing the sprint in a lightning-fast 9.39 seconds, surpassing Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt's best time of 9.58 seconds. The same humanoid model later broke the 400-meter world record by nearly five seconds, finishing in 38.15 seconds. Spectators were enthralled by the robots' performances, even as some failed to start or stumbled during the races.

While the robots' abilities impressed, many attendees, like 72-year-old Hou Yali, questioned whether machines could truly surpass humans or serve practical purposes like household tasks.