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Inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing Expose Technical Glitches During AI Showcase

More than 500 robots from 16 nations face sports trials, material-handling challenges, choreographed showcases to generate performance data

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Un robot humanoide en los Juegos Mundiales de Robots Humanoides en Beijing el 14 de agosto del 2025. (AP foto/Ng Han Guan)
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Overview

  • Opening ceremonies featured robots dancing hip-hop, performing martial arts and modeling fashion, with at least one humanoid falling and requiring human removal
  • The three-day competition includes about 280 teams drawn from universities and private companies such as Unitree and Fourier Intelligence
  • In events like football, boxing and athletics, robots frequently collided or toppled—some self-righted while others needed human assistance
  • Technical tasks ranging from medication sorting to material manipulation are being used to collect large datasets for improving reliability in factory and service applications
  • Organizers and Chinese authorities view the games as a strategic platform to advance humanoid robotics development amid demographic pressures and global technology competition