Chinese robots beat Usain Bolt’s 100m world record at Beijing games

Robots have officially outpaced Usain Bolt's legendary 100-meter world record, clocking in faster times at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre, blazed through the 100-meter heat in 9.39 seconds on Saturday. Honour's smartphone maker rival, Lightning, was not far behind, finishing its heat in 9.47 seconds. Both times shattered Bolt's 2009 record of 9.58 seconds.

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A Chinese ‌humanoid robot ran 100 metres in 9.39 seconds in a preliminary heat at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday, faster than the men’s world record held by Jamaican sprinting great Usain Bolt.

The competition, however, was not without its robotic drama. The robots lacked Bolt's signature flair, stumbling and crashing into mats designed to stop them. Tiangong Ultra veered off course, while Lightning collapsed and was carried off on a stretcher. These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges in humanoid robot development, despite the impressive speed gains.

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Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation ​Centre, won its heat at the opening of the games’ second edition, organisers said.

This year's games mark a significant leap from the previous year, where Tiangong Ultra's winning time was a much slower 21.50 seconds. Organizers reported that Lightning had previously achieved a 9.32-second 100-meter time in a preparatory test. The games feature 51 events, including football, dancing, and industrial tasks, showcasing the diverse applications being explored for humanoid robots.

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The results nevertheless marked a sharp improvement from last year’s inaugural games, when Tiangong Ultra won ​the 100 metres in 21.50 seconds.

China views humanoid robots as a key strategic industry, with significant investment from both policymakers and companies. This focus is driven by the belief that advancements in artificial intelligence and hardware will accelerate the integration of robots into manufacturing, logistics, and consumer sectors. Investor confidence is high, as demonstrated by the more than fivefold increase in shares for Unitree, a prominent Chinese humanoid robot manufacturer, during its Shanghai trading debut, valuing the company at approximately $50 billion.

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China has promoted humanoid robots as a strategic emerging industry, with policymakers ​and companies betting that advances in AI and hardware will accelerate their use in ​manufacturing, logistics ⁠and consumer applications.