China’s robots race ahead

Humanoid robot competes in the optional boxing routine event during the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games at National Speed Skating Oval on August 26, 2026 in Beijing, China. | Image: Getty Images This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on falling robots

World Humanoid Robot Games showcased leaps Beijing has made in the tech, but also highlighted limitations as US rivals prepare their own launches With exploding pelvises, enough comic pratfalls for a Buster Keaton show reel and the odd moment of ruthless violence, the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing gripped the w

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Though the country's robot makers produce world-beating hardware, the humanoids currently lack the intelligence needed for general-purpose work, limiting their practical uses.

Videos from the World Humanoid Robot Games show android athletes crashing, boxing, and high-jumping in hilarious fashion as algorithms spread the clips.

Beijing’s endlessly delightful Robot Games featured tons of impressive stunts. But the most mind-blowing tricks challenged the humanoid’s brain, not its brawn.

The 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games have been going viral all week and it's easy to see why, with the machine Olympics offering an eerie glimpse into the future

A humanoid robot running 100 metres in 9.39 seconds sounds extraordinary. At this week’s World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, one machine reportedly beat the world record held by Usain Bolt, while another jumped higher than Javier Sotomayor’s long-standing high jump mark. On the surface, these achievements appear to

A Chinese humanoid robot set a new 100-metre sprint record of 8.86 seconds in Beijing on Tuesday, beating its robot competitors — and the fastest recorded human time.

A Tiangong Ultra humanoid robot crosses the finish line in 8.86 seconds, next to Honor humanoid robots, during a 100m large-size group semifinal race, at the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, China, on Aug 25, 2026. (Photo: Reuters/Tingshu Wang) 26 Aug 2026 10:32AM BEIJING:

Record-breaking robot races are less substantial than household chore challenges.

A Chinese humanoid robot sets a new 100-meter sprint record at Beijing Games  AP News

A Chinese humanoid robot sets a new 100-meter sprint record at Beijing Games  Toronto Star

A Chinese humanoid robot has set a new 100-meter sprint record of 8.86 seconds in Beijing

A Chinese humanoid robot has set a new 100-meter sprint record of 8.86 seconds in Beijing

Chinese humanoid robots broke records set by humans, including beating Usain Bolt's 100-metre sprint world record, on the opening day of the Olympics-like World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday.