Tesla Optimus rival Unitree shines at the 'World Humanoid Robot Games' in China
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Humanoid robot athletes competed in dance battles, martial arts, track and field and soccer.
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3 min read
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investment
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August 18, 2025
07:16 PM
CNBC
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In this articleTSLA your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNTwatch now1:4601:46First-ever World Humanoid Robot Games conclude in Beijing — here are the highlightsNews sThe first "World Humanoid Robot Games" is in the books.The three-day competition hosted in Beijing wrapped on Sunday, attracting 280 teams from 16 countries, including the U.S
Teams used robots manufactured by Chinese companies such as Unitree and Booster.During the games, humanoid athletes competed in dance battles, martial arts, track and field events such as the 400-meter and 1500-meter races and long jump, and a soccer tournament."Robots have stronger joints and core strength," said Guo Tong, who grammed one of the futuristic footballers for his team, Hephaestus.Guo said he sees robots replacing his idol, soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, by 2050."Robots are easier to coach," Chinese Olympic boxer Li Yang told CNBC while watching his robot slug it out with another. "Humans are emotional."Hangzhou-based Unitree, seen as a competitor to Tesla's Optimus, won multiple medals
Beijing-based X-Humanoid and Hong Kong-listed Shenzhen firm UB also impressed.Humanoid robots from Unitree Robotics win the first place in the 4x100m Relay of Track and Field event on day three of the World Humanoid Robot Games at National Speed Skating Oval on August 17, 2025 in Beijing, China
Zhang Xiangyi | China News Service | Getty ImagesThe Chinese government has targeted humanoid robots as a key future industry for the economy and Beijing has plans to build a world-class industry of humanoid robots by 2027.The games are the in a series of events and grams aimed at moting humanoid robot nology
China announced plans to hold its second Olympics-style event for humanoid robots next August.Robots also put job skills to the test, showcasing their abilities as drug store clerks, factory workers, and hotel staff.One challenge for a robot in housekeeping was to pick up all the garbage in a mock hotel room and take out the trash
Referees told CNBC the biggest obstacle for those robots was opening and closing the door.Robot designer Wang Xidong says the competition is key to testing the robots' skills and imving them."We are refining our robots," Wang said. "Everyone feels motivated to compete."Read more CNBC newsBill Gates meets Willy Wonka: How Epic's 82-year-old billionaire CEO built her software factorySamsung taking market from Apple in U.S. as foldable phones gain momentumOpenAI in talks to sell around $6 billion in stock at roughly $500 billion valuation IPOs are roaring after 'years of hibition' — it may be too good
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