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Humanoid robots break human records at World Robot Games in Beijing
France🏛️ PoliticsCenter8/23/2026

Humanoid robots break human records at World Robot Games in Beijing

At the World Robot Games in Beijing, humanoid robots set new records, showcasing China's advancements in robotics. A robot named Tiangong Ultra broke Usain Bolt's 100-meter dash record with a time of 9.39 seconds, and later shattered the 400-meter record at 38.15 seconds. These achievements were highlighted in Chinese state media, emphasizing the technological prowess of Chinese-developed robots. Spectators observed both impressive performances and comedic failures, such as robots stumbling or failing to start. While some viewers expressed interest in seeing robots perform practical tasks, others noted that current competitions focus solely on speed rather than intelligence or domestic assistance.

A humanoid robot has broken the 100-metre sprint record previously held by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt during the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, China. The event took place over the weekend, drawing crowds and showcasing advancements in robotics technology. According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, the robot named Tiangong Ultra completed the distance in 9.39 seconds, surpassing Bolt’s record of 9.58 seconds set in 2009. The competition unfolded at Beijing’s Olympic speed skating arena, where dozens of humanoids and their human operators participated in a variety of athletic and combat sports events. On Saturday, during the opening ceremony, the Tiangong Ultra robot made headlines by achieving the unprecedented feat. Its performance was widely covered in Chinese state media, highlighting the nation’s growing influence in the field of robotics. On Sunday, the same robot continued to impress, breaking the 400-metre world record by nearly five seconds. Initially recorded at 38.16 seconds, the time was later adjusted to 38.15 seconds. Developed by a research center backed by the local government in Beijing, the robot demonstrated remarkable agility and endurance throughout the race. In one heat, the white-shelled robot moved rapidly around the track, occasionally wobbling but managing to stay upright despite the challenges posed by its mechanical design. Spectators watched in amazement as some robots struggled with basic movements. In several instances, robotic runners failed to start properly, moving only at a slow pace or collapsing shortly after the starting signal. Despite these setbacks, the audience remained entertained, particularly by the humorous moments such as a humanoid in a boxing match stumbling outside the ring and requiring assistance to return to the playing area. Children and their families enjoyed watching smaller robots engage in activities like kicking a football over barriers. These interactions underscored the playful aspects of the games, even as the robots faced technical difficulties. One elderly spectator, Hou Yali, expressed interest in seeing how far robotic capabilities could evolve beyond mere physical feats. She noted that while current competitions focus on speed, future developments might enable robots to assist with daily tasks such as cleaning and meal preparation. Hou, who resides in Beijing and employs domestic helpers, believes that as economic conditions improve, more individuals may opt for robotic assistance. She emphasized that the current stage of robot development is limited to competitive performances rather than practical applications in everyday life. Her comments reflect broader societal expectations regarding the role of artificial intelligence in personal and professional settings. As the World Humanoid Robot Games continue, the event serves as a platform for demonstrating technological progress and public engagement with emerging innovations. With ongoing advancements in robotics, the potential for integrating these technologies into routine activities appears increasingly viable. The success of Tiangong Ultra marks a significant milestone in the journey towards more sophisticated and versatile robotic systems.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 2 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

3 reports

France 24 (Français) logoFrance 24 (Français)State / PublicCenterFactual 75Objective 658/23/2026
Usain Bolt's record was beaten by humanoid athletes at the World Robot Games in Beijing

At the World Robot Games held in Beijing this weekend, humanoid athletes set new sports records, including surpassing the legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt's 100-meter world record. A Chinese robot named Tiangong Ultra ran the distance in 9.39 seconds, beating Bolt's time of 9.58 seconds. The event featured various competitions ranging from athletics to boxing, with some robots demonstrating unique movement styles while others struggled with basic tasks like starting a race. Spectators were entertained by both the achievements and mishaps of the robotic athletes, with some expressing interest in seeing robots take on more complex roles beyond speed competitions.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a sports event featuring humanoid robots competing against human athletes, focusing on performance and technological advancement rather than political ideology. There is no indication of ideological framing or partisan emphasis, making the coverage politically neutral.

Why factuality (75): The article reports that an AI humanoid named Tiangong Ultra set new world records in both the 100m and 400m sprints at the World Robot Games in Beijing, beating Usain Bolt's previous records. It cites the state-run CCTV as a source and mentions the event took place over the weekend. While there is

Why objectivity (65): The tone leans slightly towards celebrating China's technological achievements, particularly highlighting the dominance of Chinese-developed humanoids. The article uses phrases like 'suprême dans ce secteur' and references state media coverage, which suggests a positive bias toward China's capabilit

France 24 (English) logoFrance 24 (English)State / PublicCenterFactual 75Objective 658/23/2026
Humanoid robots break human records at World Robot Games in Beijing

At the World Robot Games in Beijing, humanoid robots set new records, showcasing China's advancements in robotics. A robot named Tiangong Ultra broke Usain Bolt's 100-meter dash record with a time of 9.39 seconds, and later shattered the 400-meter record at 38.15 seconds. These achievements were highlighted in Chinese state media, emphasizing the technological prowess of Chinese-developed robots. Spectators observed both impressive performances and comedic failures, such as robots stumbling or failing to start. While some viewers expressed interest in seeing robots perform practical tasks, others noted that current competitions focus solely on speed rather than intelligence or domestic assistance.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual report on a technological event without overtly promoting any political agenda. While it highlights China's dominance in robotics, it does not frame the issue in a politically charged manner. The tone remains neutral, focusing on the technical achievements and public反应

Why factuality (75): The article reports that a humanoid robot named Tiangong Ultra broke Usain Bolt's 100m record, citing state broadcaster CCTV. While no primary source was available, this claim aligns with cross-source consensus among other reports covering the same event. However, the article does not provide indepe

Why objectivity (65): The tone of the article leans towards enthusiasm and celebration of China's technological achievements, using emotionally charged language like 'delighted spectators' and 'dominance in the industry.' It frames the event as a showcase of China's progress, which introduces a subtle nationalistic bias.

France 24 (Français) logoFrance 24 (Français)State / PublicCenterFactual 65Objective 708/23/2026
China: Humanoid robots break records at the Beijing Olympics

The article reports on China's performance at the World Games in Beijing, highlighting that humanoid robots set new records. The content includes a YouTube video embedded by France 24, which requires enabling audience measurement and advertising cookies to play. The user is instructed to disable any browser extensions blocking the video player if they wish to view the content. The article features an image credited to France 24.

Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a sports event (World Games) and does not involve politically charged topics such as government policies, elections, or social issues. It presents information about technological achievements in robotics within a competitive setting without taking a partisan stance.

Why factuality (65): The article reports on Chinese humanoid robots setting records at the World Games in Beijing, as reported by France 24. However, no primary source document was available for verification, so factuality is judged based on cross-source consensus. The claim aligns with general media coverage of China’s

Why objectivity (70): The article presents information in a neutral tone, focusing on the event and its implications without overt bias. It uses standard journalistic phrasing and does not appear to inject personal opinion or political stance, maintaining a relatively objective frame.

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