A specific type of video will stop you in the middle of scrolling. It feels a little off, like witnessing a moment that wasn’t meant to happen yet, rather than because it is particularly shocking. This type of video was taken from a Russian electronics store in Saratov. A standing humanoid robot is approached by a man wearing a gray polo shirt. The man tries to shake the robot’s hand but receives no response, so he shoves it. The part that has gone viral on the internet is this one: the robot maintains what can only be called a fighting…
Author: Martin Dupuis
Martin Dupuis
Martin Dupuis is an AI researcher turned technology editor with a decade of experience at the crossroads of robotics, machine learning, and science journalism. Originally from Taipei, Martin spent six years working in applied AI research before moving into full-time writing, bringing rare technical depth to his coverage of the humanoid robotics industry. At HumanoidRobotsEra, he leads reporting on AI models, robot intelligence systems, and the companies racing to build the next generation of autonomous machines. His work has been cited by robotics engineers and industry analysts for its accuracy and clarity. Martin holds a degree in Computer Science and regularly attends major robotics expos and AI conferences to report firsthand from the field.
Sometimes a product ceases to be a product and becomes something completely different: a cultural cue. An indication of where things are headed. It became evident that the Hugging Face Microduck was more than just a novelty duck robot on August 29, 2026, about twenty-four hours after pre-orders opened. It was in motion. In less than a week, over 10,000 units were sold. Sales exceeded $5 million. For anyone placing an order today, delivery dates have already been pushed back three to six months. Depending on how you feel about tiny autonomous machines waddling across your living room floor, this…
There is a specific type of video that unexpectedly destroys the internet. No scandal, no celebrity—just a humanoid robot running faster than the fastest human in history before crashing headlong into a padded wall in a blast of flames, sparks, and strewn mechanical limbs. That ten-second video probably raised more awareness of China’s robotics sector worldwide than any white paper or trade show could. Welcome to the World Humanoid Robot Games 2026, which took place in Beijing over five amazing, confusing, and sometimes terrifying days in August of last year. More than 2,000 robots from more than 660 teams competing…