A robot competes in the 1500m during the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
BEIJING (AP) — More than 2,000 humanoid robots run, play table tennis and soccer, and are setting records at the ongoing World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, highlighting China’s rapid advances in robotics amid a tech race with the United States.
Spectator looking robots perform during the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)Robots compete at the Free Combat event of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)Spectators cheer a robot competing in the 1500m during the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)Robots are prepared ahead the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)Humanoid robots are playing soccer ahead the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)Dancers and robots performs during the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)Robots compete in the 100m race during the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)Robots are prepared ahead the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)A humanoid robot is carried off the field after competing in the 1500m run race during the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)Robots walk during the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)Robots compete at the Free Combat event of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)Robots are prepared ahead the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)Technicians carry a robot after competing at the Free Combat event of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
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