Today’s Robot Week article is sponsored by 80,000 Hours, a non-profit that helps early-career professionals make the most of their careers.
If you’ve been paying any attention to the robotics world in the last couple of years, you’ve probably noticed that humanoid robots are getting better at an impressive pace.
In October 2024, Elon Musk had several of Tesla’s Optimus robots serving drinks at an event unveiling Tesla’s new Cybercab.
“Optimus is not a canned video. It’s not walled off. The Optimus robots will walk among you,” Musk said at the event.
Then in February 2026, the Chinese company Unitree staged a stunning martial arts performance at the Spring Festival Gala in Beijing. A mixed cast of humans and humanoid robots carried out a perfectly synchronized, fluid dance routine. Robots performed spins, jumps, and even backflips.
