Humanoid robot soldiers likely only 5-10 years away, one developer behind China's robotics boom tells CBS News
Beijing — How long before China is ready to deploy humanoid robot soldiers?
That question is on the minds of many of the humans gathered in Beijing right now to watch the World Humanoid Robot Games, and as smashed records highlight the dizzying pace of advancement, one developer tells CBS News the answer is likely less than a decade.
Impressive (and unimpressive) feats of athleticism
In the indoor arena used as the speedskating venue for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, dozens of humanoid robots stand in the center of the track, surrounded by their human minders, while hundreds of spectators in the crowd watch and cheer from their seats.
Two more are in a boxing ring, dressed in red and black headgear, punching and kicking each other in a kickboxing match. Others stand around a large gymnastics spring mat, waiting their turn as a preceding robot flips and spins through a floor routine.
Smaller robots — the size of children — gather on a miniature soccer field, kicking a ball up and down the synthetic grass. Others compete in an obstacle course, running, crawling, weaving and climbing their way to the finish.
This is the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games, where more than 2,000 robots from more than 600 teams representing 16 countries are competing for glory. It's the second time the event has been held, and just like last year, it is being hosted by China.
One of the machines beat Jamaican track great Usain Bolt's 100-meter sprint record on Sunday, running the 109 yards in just 9.39 seconds, beating Bolt's 2009 time of 9.58 seconds.
But it doesn't always go to plan.
During competition, a number of humanoid robots have tripped, collapsed, burst into flames or slammed into safety barriers and then been stretchered off the track. Crowds here have been thoroughly entertained.
But the question many are asking as they witness the (sometimes) remarkable agility on the track isn't when the next record will be challenged, it's how long before these eerily familiar, yet coldly unhuman machines are equipped with weapons and turned into soldiers.
"It all depends on who controls them"
Events such as sprints, long jump, weightlifting and boxing reveal physical attributes that one can easily see being transferred to the battlefield.
Robotics engineer Yang Kun, who works for Shanghai-based humanoid robot company AG BOT, told CBS News that creating robot soldiers is the ultimate aim, and he believes Chinese companies are only five to 10 years away from achieving it.
"That's what we really want to do as we can make sure people in the world will not be attacked," he said. "We will use the robots to show the power of a country like China that will ensure no other country would attack. This will prevent war."
When CBS News asked Yang if robots could become evil — the Terminator movies are starting to feel a little too real — he shook his head.
"No, I don't think so. Robots don't have emotion, only humans," he said. "It all depends on who controls them and who makes them."
The aim of the robot games, from China's perspective, is to show off the pace of the technological advances being made — and to show off the extent to which Chinese prioritization of the research and development of humanoids is putting the country in pole position.
President Xi Jinping wants China to dominate in science and technology, and under his leadership, Beijing is investing heavily in these industries, with AI and robotics already featuring in everyday life for many Chinese.
Yang, whose robot "A3" competed in the kickboxing events at the games, was very pleased with the humanoid's performance.
"In the future it can go to hotel(s), our house, to do some cleaning," he said of the imminent uses of the technology he's working on — "to make daily life better through technology."
But not much further down the road, he said, they will also "do some combat, and go to the military, and do other things."
