Humanoid robots are back in the headlines: China’s R1 and other models push production and showy demos, plus a US "Sprout" debut. Brief bios: R1, Iron-like, aimed at mass use; Sprout from Fauna Robotics, approachable design.
China's recent Lunar New Year celebrations featured highly advanced humanoid robots performing complex stunts, highlighting rapid progress in robotics and AI. Experts see this as a strategic display of technological strength, raising questions about AI's future role in society and industry.
A humanoid robot developed by Chinese smartphone maker Honor has completed a 13-mile half-marathon in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, surpassing the human world record of 57 minutes and 20 seconds. The event in Beijing has seen rapid progress from last year, with over 100 robots competing and many running faster than professional athletes.