Have robots learned how to fight, literally? World's first humanoid kickboxing match leaves viewers awestruck and uneasy
In a spectacle that looked straight out of a sci-fi blockbuster, four humanoid robots laced up their gloves, donned protective headgear, and faced off in what is being dubbed the world's first robot kickboxing championship — and the footage is as eerie as it is fascinating.
Organized by Unitree Robotics in Hangzhou, China, the tournament featured four of their G1 humanoid robots sparring in one-on-one matches. Standing 130 centimeters tall and weighing 35 kilograms, these robots mimicked human fighters so convincingly that many spectators did a double take, half-expecting someone to step out of the suit. But no — these weren't people in costumes. These were pure machines, controlled remotely by human handlers ringside.
For a generation raised on movies like Real Steel and Transformers , the championship was a bizarre real-life crossover into fiction. The robots 'warmed up' with pre-match demonstrations — punches, kicks, even standing tall after being shoved. Their movements, powered by sophisticated motion-control algorithms and large AI models, were impressively lifelike, eerily synchronized, and — to some — deeply unsettling. Each bout ran for two-minute rounds. The G1 bots scored points by landing hits to the opponent's head or torso. In the final match, Lu Xin's robot, dubbed 'AI Strategist,' crushed the competition with knockouts in all three rounds against Hu Yunqian's 'Energy Guardian.' Post-victory, Xin shared his triumph on Weibo, boasting about bringing back a 'strong entrepreneurial vibe' not seen in a while — whatever that might mean in a ring of robot prizefighters.
While the spectacle drew millions of curious eyes, it's the timing of this event that has tech analysts raising eyebrows. According to the South China Morning Post , China's robotics industry is revving up to mass-produce humanoids by 2025 — with six out of 11 domestic companies aiming to deliver more than 1,000 units each. Unitree, AgiBot, Engine AI, and others are at the forefront of this robotic gold rush. This robot rumble wasn't a one-off, either. The championship also includes robotic football and basketball — turning sports into a potential AI proving ground.
— Intern_SaharaAI (@Intern_SaharaAI)
Online reactions were split between awe and anxiety. One Weibo user quipped:
'Wait until you see that running at you wearing full body armor at 50mph and simultaneously shooting in your direction… and you knowing its hit rate is over 95%.' Others were skeptical, with some calling the footage 'fake' or 'staged.' But make no mistake: this is not CGI. It's not a Hollywood set. This is the real deal — a turning point in robotic capability and public imagination.
The kickboxing event follows China's earlier robotic headline-grabber — a half-marathon in Beijing where robots reportedly raced alongside humans. While Unitree later distanced itself from claims of formal participation, it's clear the G1 bots are ready for a different kind of endurance — inside the ring, not on the track.
As China races to the frontlines of AI and humanoid robotics, the rest of the world watches — part amused, part alarmed. If the idea of AI fighting in rings today seems amusing, one can only imagine the unease when tomorrow's bots walk, run, and maybe even think on their own.
In the words of one online commenter: 'This don't worry me... until they learn how to throw a real punch.' Too late — they already have.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
Before Sister Hong leaked explicit videos of 1,000+ men, this Chinese man lived as woman for 20 years to fake sexual relationship
Before Sister Hong made headlines for fooling over 1,000 men and leaking their explicit videos, there was another bizarre case in China that sounds almost too wild to be true. Decades ago, a Chinese man posed as a woman and maintained a 20-year sexual relationship with another man, without ever revealing his true identity. If you're not caught up on the Sister Hong scandal, here's the short version: a Chinese man surnamed Jiang was recently detained after going viral for allegedly cross-dressing as a woman and luring more than 1,000 men into sending explicit videos. Those clips have since been leaked across social media, sparking nationwide outrage and global trends. But long before this digital-age deception, there was Shi Pei Pu, a Chinese opera singer from Beijing who pulled off an equally shocking con. Shi pretended to be a woman and seduced Bernard Boursicot, a French embassy employee, all while secretly working as a spy. The affair lasted two decades and became one of the strangest espionage scandals in modern history. The Sister Hong Scandal: Arrest, Appearance, Victims, and the Video Leak In early July 2025, Chinese authorities in Nanjing detained a 38-year-old man surnamed Jiao, widely known by the alias 'Sister Hong' or 'Red Uncle," on July 5 for allegedly posing as a woman to lure and secretly film intimate encounters with hundreds of men in his Nanjing apartment. Jiao cultivated a feminine persona using heavy makeup, a long wig with blunt bangs, a surgical mask, a blouse, and a long skirt to complete the illusion. Reports suggest he compelled his male visitors—often presenting themselves as straight, young professionals or students—to bring small gifts instead of cash, then filmed the encounters on hidden cameras and sold the footage in private groups for a membership fee of around 150 yuan (≈ US$21). While social media rumours inflated the number of victims to over 1,600, authorities have neither confirmed nor ruled out that figure, only noting the scale was still substantial, with over 1,000 explicit videos leaked and circulated across platforms like Weibo, Telegram, Instagram, and X—often with victims' faces uncensored. The scandal has roiled discussions around consent, privacy, and public health, especially after some of those tested reportedly received positive HIV results. Meet Shi Pei Pu, the man who fooled the world for love and country Long before viral catfishing scandals dominated headlines, there was Shi Pei Pu—a Chinese opera singer and spy whose life blurred the lines between gender, performance, and deception. Born in 1938 in Shandong and raised in Kunming, Shi mastered both Mandarin and French and became known in Beijing's elite circles for his captivating roles as women in traditional opera. But it wasn't just on stage where Shi assumed a female identity. In 1964, at a Christmas party in Beijing, Shi met Bernard Boursicot, a 20-year-old French embassy clerk. The two quickly grew close. Shi convinced Boursicot that he was a woman forced to live as a man due to family pressure. It might sound unbelievable now, but at the time, Boursicot believed every word. Their sexual relationship always took place in the dark, and Shi even faked menstruation and pregnancy to keep the illusion alive. To make things more real, Shi introduced Boursicot to a child he claimed was their son, born through a secret arrangement. Boursicot, smitten and guilt-ridden for leaving Shi and their supposed child behind, began passing sensitive diplomatic documents to Chinese intelligence—not out of malice, but love. Over nearly 20 years, Shi funnelled information to Chinese operatives while maintaining the lie. The truth unravelled in 1983, when both Shi and Boursicot were arrested in France on espionage charges. Only during the investigation did doctors confirm that Shi was biologically male. Boursicot, devastated by the revelation, attempted suicide but survived. At their trial in 1986, both were sentenced to six years in prison. Shi was released after one year and remained in Paris until his death in 2009. Their story became the inspiration for the Tony Award-winning play M. Butterfly, which fictionalised the strange but true tale of deception, love, and loyalty during the Cold War. Even today, Shi Pei Pu's life remains one of the most bizarre and human espionage stories in modern history—a reminder of how far people can go in the name of love, identity, or a cause. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
Macau casino heir Mario Ho accused of cheating, fathering secret child, and incest with half-sister
A wave of explosive allegations surrounding Macau casino heir Mario Ho Yau Kwan sent Chinese social media into overdrive on July 31, after multiple posts on Weibo accused the 29-year-old businessman of infidelity, having a secret child, and even inappropriate behavior with his own half-sister. The rumours quickly ignited a frenzy online, drawing in netizens, tabloids, and entertainment portals across Greater China. However, in a rare move, Mario Ho issued a lengthy personal statement, denying all claims and urging the public to exercise caution before accepting viral gossip as truth. From viral rumour to public denial First came the rumours of him cheating on his wife, Ming Xi. Then came whispers about him having a secret child with BY2's Yumi (a Singaporean duo based in China), and even talk that he was involved with both members of the girl group. But the most outrageous accusation? A supposed romantic relation with his half-sister, Laurinda Ho. Though none of the claims have been confirmed, the mix of blurry photos and anonymous posts was enough to set the internet ablaze. Mario Ho gives a shocking response The Macau casino heir took to Weibo with a forceful rebuttal, calling the claims "absurd" and "wildly imaginative." He said, "They said I had a child with another woman - I already clarified back in 2019. There's no child! Then they said I was dating both members of BY2. I was just speechless. And now, a rumour involving my own sister. My god, some people's imagination is off the charts." He added that while he usually chooses not to respond to gossip, this round had gone too far: "It's not just me anymore. The people around me are being hurt, and my family's name is being dragged through the mud. Let me say this clearly: every single rumour is false." The silence of Ming Xi and public curiosity The situation escalated further due to the silence of his wife, Ming Xi, a Chinese supermodel and public figure in her own right. The couple married in 2019 and have two children together. As she has made no public statement since the rumours surfaced, it has prompted some netizens to question the narrative. Adding to the intrigue is Ming Xi's high-profile status within the Ho family. In 2023, she was reportedly gifted a HK$4.6 billion cargo ship by Mario's mother, Angela Leong, and named one of the successors to Leong's vast business empire. Family legacy under pressure Mario Ho is the youngest son of Angela Leong, the fourth wife of the late Stanley Ho, the legendary Macau casino magnate. Born in 1995, Mario has long been positioned as one of the Ho family's rising stars. A brilliant student, he earned gold medals at the International Mathematical Olympiad and was accepted to both Oxford and MIT, ultimately choosing to study at MIT. After graduating in 2016, Mario returned to Hong Kong and launched several business ventures, building a reputation as a savvy and ambitious entrepreneur within the family's complex corporate legacy. What's next for the Ho family? While none of the allegations have been substantiated, the public fallout may still leave lasting marks on the Ho family's image. The most inflammatory claim - concerning Mario and his half-sister Laurinda - has drawn particular attention for its taboo nature. Mario's statement may have quieted some speculation, but questions still swirl - especially as no legal action has been publicly pursued and key figures, including Ming Xi and Laurinda Ho, have yet to speak. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
BGMI 3.9 update: 5 cool upgrades you probably missed
The BGMI 3.9 update was only released recently on July 16. Since then, while several new features have been highlighted, such as the collaboration with the Transformers, several other features in the update have gone unnoticed. Here, we outline five features from the BGMI 3.9 update that you might have missed. Playing BGMI on high settings. (Ijaj Khan/HT) 1. Anti-Gravity Spires For Traversal According to Krafton, the anti-gravity spires bring dynamic traversal to classic maps. These include floating towers that launch you into the air, allowing you to deploy anywhere nearby. This enables fast rotations and creative strategic escapes that were not previously possible to execute. 2. ASM Abakan 5.56mm Rifle The classic mode features a new weapon called the ASM Abakan, which is a 5.56mm assault rifle. It has been added to Erangel, Livik, and Sanhok, and offers full-auto, burst, and single-shot modes. 3. Faster Sprinting Thanks To Medkits Using a medkit now allows you to sprint faster. This creates possibilities such as escaping the blue zone or evading enemies you might not want to face immediately. Again, another strategic play, and saves you from potential losses which could have been avoided. 4. Pre-match Plane Cabin Fun Before a match begins, there is a social hub in the plane which you can be a part of to relax, dance, play mini-games, and socialise. However, this feature is only available to players at level 9 and above. 5. Bike Can Drift For fans of using bikes in BGMI, these vehicles can now drift, leaving skid marks. Now, this opens up numerous gameplay possibilities and opportunities for cool gameplay footage. We are sure players will find new ways to do stunts, and then share the gameplay with friends and on socials. MOBILE FINDER: iPhone 16 LATEST Price And More
