Advanced robots from around the world displayed their capabilities in 2025, from cooking in kitchens to competing in races and fights. Highlights included humanoid models balancing versatility with stability, though mishaps like falls were common. These demonstrations occurred at events in Berlin, Beijing, and Qatar, blending innovation with humor.
In 2025, the robotics field saw a series of entertaining and impressive showcases, as detailed in a New Scientist review. At the IFA 2025 tech show in Berlin, the R1 humanoid robot from Robbyant—owned by Chinese tech giant Ant Group—cooked shrimp in a kitchen demonstration. Featuring a stable wheeled base and humanoid upper body, the R1 balances mobility with human-like versatility. Its makers envision it serving as a carer, nurse, or tour guide, though the cooking proceeded at a relaxed pace.
More ambitious efforts unfolded at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing in August. The bipedal Tiangong robot, developed by the National and Local Co-built Embodied AI Robotics Innovation Center, tripped during a 100-metre race. Other competitions included football and dance, where one robot withdrew from the 1500-metre event after its head detached. A separate highlight was a kickboxing bout between Unitree G1 robots, which moved slowly, delivering gentle pushes rather than punches, and frequently fell but recovered with agility.
In April, Beijing's E-Town hosted the first Humanoid Robot Half Marathon, pitting 12,000 humans against 21 robots. Only six robots completed the course, with the Tiangong Ultra winning in 2 hours and 40 minutes—powered by three battery sets, unlike human runners.
Qatar's camel racing scene, which banned child jockeys in 2005 following campaigner pressure, now relies on robotic alternatives. At a January event in Al-Shahaniya, 40 kilometres west of Doha, organized by the Qatar Camel Racing Organising Committee, these devices—evolved from basic electric drill setups—function as remote-controlled whips to urge camels faster.
These events underscore robots' growing prowess and limitations in real-world tasks, blending advanced engineering with occasional absurdity.
