Humanoid robot soldiers likely only 5-10 years away, one developer behind China's robotics boom tells CBS News

Key Points:

• The 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing showcase rapid advancements in humanoid robotics, featuring over 2,000 robots from 16 countries competing in athletic events such as sprinting, boxing, and gymnastics.
• A robot at the games recently broke Usain Bolt's 100-meter sprint record, completing the distance in 9.39 seconds, highlighting significant progress in robotic speed and agility.
• Despite occasional malfunctions and accidents during competitions, experts believe humanoid robots could be weaponized and deployed as soldiers within the next five to ten years.
• Robotics engineer Yang Kun from AG BOT emphasized that robot soldiers would serve as a deterrent to war, asserting that robots themselves lack emotions and that their impact depends on human control.
• China's government, under President Xi Jinping, is heavily investing in AI and robotics, aiming for technological dominance and practical applications of humanoid robots in daily life and military use.