What could possibly go wrong? The 4-foot-tall humanoid robot that's in front of me seems, quite honestly, a bit drunk. After 30 seconds or so it abruptly stops, then strides toward me with an arm outstretched. The little robot is at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, on the banks of the Huangpu river in Shanghai. The convention center is teeming with humanoids --dancing ones, box-toting ones, robot dog-walking ones doing circuits around trade show booths. A few lie slumped in a corner as their batteries recharge. A Unitree humanoid robot modified for experimental purposes at the BAAI.

Robots with anthropomorphic features are increasingly shaping how humans perceive and morally engage with them. Our research investigates how different levels of anthropomorphism influence protective responses to robot abuse, extending the Computers as Social Actors (CASA) and uncanny valley theories into a moral domain. In an experiment, we invite 201 participants to view videos depicting abuse toward a robot with low (Spider), moderate (Two-Foot), or high (Humanoid) anthropomorphism. To provide a comprehensive analysis, we triangulate three modalities: self-report surveys measuring emotions and uncanniness, physiological data from automated facial expression analysis, and qualitative reflections. Findings indicate that protective responses are not linear. The moderately anthropomorphic Two-Foot robot, rated highest in eeriness and "spine-tingling" sensations consistent with the uncanny valley, elicited the strongest physiological anger expressions. Self-reported anger and guilt are significantly higher for both the Two-Foot and Humanoid robots compared to the Spider. Qualitative findings further reveal that as anthropomorphism increases, moral reasoning shifts from technical assessments of property damage to condemnation of the abuser's character, while governance proposals expand from property law to calls for quasi-animal rights and broader societal responsibility. These results suggest that the uncanny valley does not dampen moral concern but paradoxically heightens protective impulses, offering critical implications for robot design, policy, and future legal frameworks.

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. This week, China's leading robotics minds gathered in Beijing for a hotly-anticipated, Olympics-style event dubbed the world's first "Humanoid Robot Games." Over the course of just over an hour, an assortment of wobbly, bipedal robots "competed" in soccer, running, and kickboxing. Others danced alongside far more coordinated children, while a handful struggled to play pre-programmed instruments. The entire awkward affair, touted as a showcase of the country's robotics prowess, highlighted how far the industry still has to go to approach anything resembling human-level performance.

Industries can rethink how work gets done, raising the bar for productivity and workplace safety. Unitree just dropped its latest creation, the R1 humanoid robot, and people are talking. At only 5,900, it's the most affordable bipedal robot we've seen so far. The low price has taken the tech world by surprise and kicked off a wave of excitement. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox.

AI investor Arnie Bellini predicted that future battles will be fought by robots and that the U.S.'s cyber and AI capabilities might be able to prevent a war with China before it starts. A jaw-dropping video showing a Unitree H1 humanoid robot flailing violently during a test has captured the internet's attention and sparked a new wave of concern about the safety of advanced robotics. Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide -- free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM/NEWSLETTER In the viral clip, the full-sized humanoid robot named DeREX is suspended from a crane inside a factory in China. Surrounded by two handlers, it suddenly starts thrashing its limbs without warning.

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. After decades of being tortured, shoved, kicked, burned, and bludgeoned, robots are finally getting their chance to fight back. This weekend, Chinese robotics maker Unitree says it will livestream the world's first boxing match between two of its humanoid robots. The event, titled Unitree Iron Fist King: Awakening, will feature a face-off between two of Unitree's 4.3-foot-tall G1 robots. The robots will reportedly be remotely controlled by human engineers, though they are also expected to demonstrate some autonomous, pre-programmed actions as well.

A robotics company has advanced from a backflipping robot to a side-flipping robot. Robots aren't just efficient machines anymore, they are now agile performers that can flip and jog. Take, for instance, Unitree, a Chinese robotics company that has been making headlines with its incredible G1 humanoid robot. You might have seen it dancing alongside humans or remembered its predecessor, the H1, which stunned us with a backflip using electric motors. But now, the G1 has taken things to a whole new level.

Does anyone want to buy a humanoid robot for 16,000? The latest product from Unitree hopes that you will: Meet the Unitree G1, a "Humanoid agent AI avatar," aka a robot. If you haven't heard of Unitree, it's sort of the go-to "budget Chinese option" in the robot space. You're going to have to deal with company promotional materials that are just barely written in English, but you get some impressive bang-for-your-buck robots. You may have seen the Spot knockoff Unitree Go2, a 1,600 robot dog that various resellers have equipped with a flamethrower or just straight-up military rifles.

Based on how robots get treated in demonstration videos, you could hardly blame them for wanting to overthrow humanity. In this terrifying video, a humanoid robot is seen taking a beating from a human operator, before smashing its own fingers with a mallet. To make things even weirder, the robot also shows off its bizarrely flexible joints by contorting itself like something out of The Exorcist. While they might be impressive, these creepy movements have led some commenters on social media to call the robot'absolutely terrifying.' But at only 4ft 1" (127cm) - roughly the height of the average eight-year-old - the Unitree G1 might struggle to reach the top shelf, let alone destroy humanity. At the start of the video, the child-sized humanoid appears crumpled on the floor, before rising up on its flexible joints.

This incredible video captures the moment a Chinese humanoid robot sets a new world speed record. Clocking in at just 7mph, it won't be competing in the Olympics any time soon, but this is still blisteringly fast for a bipedal bot. In the video, Chinese robotics firm Unitree shows off the impressive capabilities of their latest robot, the H1 Evolution V3.0. From a powerful jump to some snazzy dance moves, the H1 demonstrates its mobility and balance. Incredible footage shows as Unitree's H1 Evolution V3.0 robot sets a new speed record for a full-size humanoid robot Top speed: 3.3 metres per second (proven) or 5 m/s (potential) Dressed in a T-shirt and rather odd trousers the robot begins to run across an open court. With a technique that is somewhere between a waddle and a run, the bot quickly hits its top speed.