Althouse: The World Humanoid Robot Games, there were Olympic-style events like the 100-meter sprint as well as contests for robots to pick up beans.

August 24, 2026

The World Humanoid Robot Games, there were Olympic-style events like the 100-meter sprint as well as contests for robots to pick up beans.

68 comments:

Peachy+2 said...: of course robots are going to best humans in all the areas.

It remains impressive to me to watch humans best each other on the track. (- sans drugs and hormones.)

That old footage of the Communist block 800 meter "woman" beating all the females. LOL. I'd like to see that record smashed. by a real woman!; 8/24/26, 8:40 AM
CJinPA said...: I don't like all these robits learning how to run and jump. Nothing good will come of it, I tell you.; 8/24/26, 8:40 AM
boatbuilder said...: 9.39.
Makes you appreciate just how incredible Usain Bolt is.; 8/24/26, 8:45 AM
gilbar said...: machines that are faster and stronger than humans?
what's next? a machine that's faster and stronger than a horse?
what will THAT do to the horseshoe industry?; 8/24/26, 8:49 AM
Peachy+2 said...: on-topic-ish - This is funny; 8/24/26, 8:56 AM
Peachy+2 said...: (46 second mark - best point made ever); 8/24/26, 8:57 AM
Lazarus said...: Should we be saddened if China is ahead of us in the robotics race or gladdened that human beings will be an irrelevance there as well as here?; 8/24/26, 8:58 AM
Indefinitely Extended Excursion™️ said...: This is so much more realistic than data centers in space...; 8/24/26, 8:58 AM
Jamie said...: "This is so much more realistic than data centers in space..."

So, 30 years ago, were you predicting smartphones? How about CRISPR? Did you see the US becoming THE dominant petrostate for natural gas?; 8/24/26, 9:03 AM
etbass said...: How long will it be until robots are replacing human drivers in the Indy 500?; 8/24/26, 9:10 AM
Luke Lea said...: For a low-wage, still relatively underdeveloped country like China investing capital in labor-saving technologies is just plain dumb in so far as the welfare of the Chinese people is concerned.; 8/24/26, 9:11 AM
Leland said...: I heard some of the events were back breaking.; 8/24/26, 9:12 AM
William said...: This is all well and good, but what progress is being made on durable, affordable sex robots. Eyes on the prize, people.; 8/24/26, 9:14 AM
ron winkleheimer said...: I prefer Robot Wars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psY_3k0uiRI; 8/24/26, 9:20 AM
Indefinitely Extended Excursion™️ said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/24/26, 9:26 AM
Ice Nine said...: Somewhere, 26 year-older Bill Joy is wryly smiling...; 8/24/26, 9:31 AM
Indefinitely Extended Excursion™️ said...: @Jamie: The key question is whether orbital data centers can become more economical than terrestrial facilities, or mainly serve to justify a higher valuation (SpaceX) for an unproven business model.

How hard is it to build orbital data centers, actually?
https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/07/how-hard-is-it-to-build-orbital-data-centers-actually/; 8/24/26, 9:32 AM
WK said...: As AI helps the robots become sentient will the events be segregated based on how they identify? Looking forward to the swimming competitions.; 8/24/26, 9:36 AM
ronetc said...: You mean male and female robots . . . or segregated human and robot leagues? "As AI helps the robots become sentient will the events be segregated based on how they identify?"; 8/24/26, 9:48 AM
Rustygrommet said...: If all we needed robots for was track and field this would be an amazing event. But we need robot that have the ruggedness and ability to do other things. We need them to do boring ,repetitive, dangerous things.
If you think about it there isn't a lot we need humanoid robots to do. We already program the machines themselves to do those things. As an example robot lawn mowers and robotic farm equipment. The shop floor is already robotic and has been for years and none of those machines resemble humans.; 8/24/26, 9:54 AM
bagoh20 said...: Performing human sports seems like the least useful thing for these machines. We need them cleaning toilets, assuming that doesn't offend them.; 8/24/26, 10:05 AM
bagoh20 said...: If they are programmed to identify as women, I see no way to stop them from playing in the WNBA.; 8/24/26, 10:07 AM
Original Mike said...: Run, Forest, Run!; 8/24/26, 10:30 AM
Shouting Thomas said...: The first huge market for Optimus robots will be in-home elder care. This will keep seniors in their homes and out of institutions.

https://youtu.be/R3lhURYd7eg?is=Jn1_Jdkdd7xIRjKA; 8/24/26, 10:32 AM
gspencer said...: Shouldn't the spoken language of these racing bots be ebonics?; 8/24/26, 10:33 AM
Temujin said...: I'll start watching when they allow the trans-robots to participate and use the same lubricant bottle.; 8/24/26, 10:37 AM
Temujin said...: I guess I could have been clearer in my comment, but...let's let it ride.; 8/24/26, 10:38 AM
Original Mike said...: Can I enter Rex?; 8/24/26, 10:40 AM
D.D. Driver said...: Our Top Men have decided that the future of warfare will continue to be 18 year old men eating shrapnel While China is building robots and drones. We are going to just stick with what (sort of) worked last century.; 8/24/26, 10:47 AM
bagoh20 said...: If there were a truly usable robotic assistant that could simply watch you do something and then do it for you, or follow simple instructions, I'd pay a lot for that. The software could be continuously updated, and you could keep the thing for life. As Elon Musk has claimed, it will be the most successful product in history. Now, if one kills someone, then that's going to set things back some, but it won't stop it from succeeding, and eventually the sci-fi future will come to life.; 8/24/26, 10:47 AM
n.n said...: Are sims a drag or trans?; 8/24/26, 10:51 AM
Arashi said...: So did anyone else notice the folks with the remote controllers actually controlling the 'robots'? Just me? These are not really robots as they are not autonomous and require human control to make sure they follow their program. They are big, two legged RC models.
Now once they can actually go full autonomous and carry weapons and reload by themselves we will have an actual. problem.; 8/24/26, 11:08 AM
Wince said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/24/26, 11:11 AM
Wince said...: Given the physiological limitations of humans in space, humanoid robots will overtake actual humans as far as the exploration of the surface of Mars for a considerable period of time.; 8/24/26, 11:13 AM
Freder Frederson said...: "The first huge market for Optimus robots will be in-home elder care. "

We already have a crisis of loneliness and isolation of our elderly. And you and Elon Musk want to replace human aides with robots?

What a fucking nightmare!; 8/24/26, 11:17 AM
Wilbur said...: The real tragedy is that Bobby Heenan did not live to see the Humanoid Olympics.; 8/24/26, 11:18 AM
Jamie said...: "@Jamie: The key question is whether orbital data centers can become more economical than terrestrial facilities, or mainly serve to justify a higher valuation (SpaceX) for an unproven business model.

How hard is it to build orbital data centers, actually?"

I'm sure you can think of other things that were impossibly uneconomic until they weren't.

Google's ordinary built-in Gemini can: "Things once considered economically impossible include free global software powered by volunteers, reusable orbital rocket boosters, instantaneous digital communication at zero marginal cost, and solar power generation that undercuts fossil fuels. Changing technology and shifted markets turned these financial pipe dreams into standard modern reality."; 8/24/26, 11:23 AM
bagoh20 said...: "What a fucking nightmare!"

I'd much rather have a machine doing all the nasty stuff required. You really prefer making another human wipe your ass if you had a choice?; 8/24/26, 11:24 AM
hombre said...: Do track star robots identify as men or women?; 8/24/26, 11:25 AM
Rustygrommet said...: Wince said...
Given the physiological limitations of humans in space, humanoid robots will overtake actual humans as far as the exploration of the surface of Mars for a considerable period of time.

And they won't look human either. My preference is for four legs and four arms for stability. This will make working in zero g and reduced gravity easier.; 8/24/26, 11:30 AM
Ice Nine said...: >bagoh20 said...
I'd much rather have a machine doing all the nasty stuff required. You really prefer making another human wipe your ass if you had a choice?<

I'd need to look into the credentials of the techie who programmed the robot's fine movements before answering that...; 8/24/26, 11:44 AM
Rustygrommet said...: I don't know, Freder. Having someone like you looking after me or a humanoid robot? I think I'd get more compassion from the robot.; 8/24/26, 12:43 PM
stlcdr said...: And we made them in our image and we are God.; 8/24/26, 12:55 PM
stlcdr said...: My wife who is very non-technical and hates AI and such, sees the opportunity for elder care in these robots. In the not too distant future.; 8/24/26, 12:57 PM
stlcdr said...: " bagoh20 said...
Performing human sports seems like the least useful thing for these machines. We need them cleaning toilets, assuming that doesn't offend them.

8/24/26, 10:05 AM "

Yes, it's not useful, really, but it does help develop the technology to do the things we really need them to do.

Of course, when the robo-janitor starts muttering " I used to be someone, I was a champion, a winner, the fastest person around, and look at me now... "; 8/24/26, 12:59 PM
Josephbleau said...: Regarding orbital data centers:

Arthur C. Clarke’s First Law:
“When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.”; 8/24/26, 1:10 PM
Aggie said...: I can't wait for this iteration of humanoid robots to start showing up on that BattleBots show.; 8/24/26, 1:11 PM
Peachy+2 said...: butt whipping - I will do that myself for as long as I am able.
House cleaning and gourmet cooking? A shiny robot, please.
but no sass.; 8/24/26, 2:00 PM
FullMoon said...: "Peachy+2 said...
butt whipping - I will do that myself for as long as I am able.
House cleaning and gourmet cooking? A shiny robot, please.
but no sass."

You charge, or whip 'em for free?; 8/24/26, 2:36 PM
hanuman_prodigious_leaper said...: durable, affordable sex robots ....
If they can break human are they affordable?; 8/24/26, 2:37 PM
Original Mike said...: "Arthur C. Clarke’s First Law:
“When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.”"

'Possible' and 'economically viable' are not the same thing.; 8/24/26, 2:41 PM
Leland said...: Using Arsetechica to tell you about data centers and space is like going to the Verge to learn how to build a PC.; 8/24/26, 3:10 PM
Smilin' Jack said...: Evolution over millions of years has done a pretty good job of designing the humanoid form to be very good at general purpose manipulation of the environment. (Of course it has left us actual humans with some unfortunate residues of the process. I’m reminded of the silliness of ID whenever I have to clip my toenails. Presumably robots will designed without those.) So if robots are ever sent to Mars to build luxury resorts for tourists (the only way anyone will ever go there) I expect they will be humanoid in form. If Elon is serious he must be thinking along those lines.; 8/24/26, 3:27 PM
Shouting Thomas said...: The Optimus robot that cares for an elder in his home will also provide chatbot companionship. Certainly, this is not an adequate substitute for a real, human companion, but it’s better than being entirely alone. And, I’ve been experienced the home health workers attending to my dad when he suffered through dementia. That can be incredibly humiliating. And often dangerous to the home health worker.; 8/24/26, 3:42 PM
Smilin' Jack said...: "Arthur C. Clarke’s First Law:
“When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.”

For some reason many people seem unaware that Clarke’s actual domain was science *fiction*, not science. When he states something about science or scientists he is very probably wrong. 2001 was visually pretty, but scientifically goofy.; 8/24/26, 3:44 PM
Original Mike said...: "Certainly, this is not an adequate substitute for a real, human companion, "

Oh, IDK…; 8/24/26, 3:46 PM
Jim at said...: *We already have a crisis of loneliness and isolation of our elderly.*

Were you saying this during the Covid lockdowns? No.
Then shut up.; 8/24/26, 3:53 PM
Leland said...: I can't always watch the videos at work, even if know some of the background. Finally watched this one. Notice they interview the lady about AI. However, if you watch the video closely, such as the award ceremony (or not in the video, the robot crashing into the barrier and then breaking in half); you'll see a person controlling the robot with a game controller type remote.

To be fair, what is shown is quite impressive and somewhat scary. This is the stuff that leads to Terminator movie type robots that can handle all terrains like humans. However, the control is much more basic than what they suggest verbally in the video.

Looking at an earlier comment by Rustygrommet responding to Wince; I add: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robonaut
One of the reasons the first iteration didn't fly was the human crew were concerned about it not being tethered inside the station and then crashing into things during boost maneuvers. Feet and legs help.; 8/24/26, 4:11 PM
Original Mike said...: I have all the respect in the world for Musk, but he's got a possible show-stopper with regard to his plans for Starship: the heat shield. There's a legitimate question whether the tile technology will ever be robust enough to support rapid reusability. It certainly wasn't in NASA's hands.; 8/24/26, 4:16 PM
Lazarus said...: "And we made them in our image and we are God."

Wasn't there a movie sometime about a computer thinking humanity, its creator, is God and discovering that we aren't God and then trying to destroy us?

Probably, there are movies about everything at this point.; 8/24/26, 6:05 PM
Lazarus said...: ... and nary a worry about the sex or gender of the competitors ...

Robots really are the future ...; 8/24/26, 6:06 PM
john mosby said...: etbass: "How long will it be until robots are replacing human drivers in the Indy 500?"

Sports are entertaining because they're artificially difficult. Moving a ball around without using your hands. Trying to hit a 100mph tiny ball with a bat exactly the same diameter. Etc. I doubt most non-nerds will flock to robot sports.

PS: Your handle refers to Ernest T., right? CC, JSM; 8/24/26, 6:18 PM
john mosby said...: Smilin Jack: " I’m reminded of the silliness of ID whenever I have to clip my toenails."

Come now. Our toenails provide the materials for Naglfar. CC, JSM; 8/24/26, 6:23 PM
john mosby said...: bag: "You really prefer making another human wipe your ass if you had a choice?"

Yes. Yes I do. CC, JSM; 8/24/26, 6:24 PM
Joe Bar said...: "In the cinema tonight, they sit and watch the robots fight
The human beings don't have much to say
Robots making lots of cash and all they eat is instant mash
Oh, wouldn't you just love to be that way?
It's so easy, it's so easy
Heat it, beat it, eat it, turn around
It's so easy, it's so easy
Do the instant mash, do the instant mash
Do the instant mash, make an instant smash
Doin' the instant mash"
-Joe Joackson, who predicted this a long time ago.
Actually, I think I saw it on The Jetsons as a kid.
I know we played "Rock'em Sock'em Robots."; 8/24/26, 7:11 PM
chuck said...: I’m reminded of the silliness of ID whenever I have to clip my toenails.

They probably serve some purpose. Finger nails, for instance, vary in thickness, starting at the thumb and decreasing to the pinky. Evolution in action. Cat claws also vary in size, the dew claw serves as a sort of thumb.; 8/24/26, 7:14 PM
Josephbleau said...: “ Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) was a British science-fiction writer, futurist, inventor, and science popularizer, best known for 2001: A Space Odyssey and for formulating Clarke’s Three Laws.

Born in Somerset, England, Clarke served in the Royal Air Force during World War II, working with radar. In 1945 he published an influential paper proposing geostationary communications satellites—satellites orbiting about 35,800 km above Earth so that they remain over the same point on the equator. The geostationary orbit is consequently sometimes called the Clarke orbit.

After the war he earned degrees in mathematics and physics at King’s College London and became one of the major figures of 20th-century science fiction, alongside Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein. His books include Childhood’s End, The City and the Stars, Rendezvous with Rama, and The Fountains of Paradise.”

Clarke was not an uninformed man regarding space and was considered by the field to be an originator of key satellite telecommunications.principles, back in the forties.; 8/24/26, 7:49 PM
Josephbleau said...: Data centers in space are just one small segment of the industrialization of space. At this time it is easy to say that it is not economic but we say that about everything at first. Railroads were condemned as dangerous toys in their infancy.

Technology marches on, in my twenties I would have made the same economics argument about sat phones and ai.; 8/24/26, 7:56 PM