First a Combat Show, Now This: Unitree Robots Are Preparing to Overtake Usain Bolt as Early as Summer 2026
Wang Xingxing, founder of Unitree Robotics, said that while robots cannot currently beat humans in the 100-meter dash, he expects that by mid-2026, robots around the world — especially in China — will be able to run faster than humans, “even faster than Usain Bolt,” with a 100-meter dash time of under ten seconds.
When asked about when robotics will reach the level of embodied intelligence, Wang said the field still has some ground to cover. He identified several key challenges: the most significant is the insufficient generalization ability of AI models. Improving the generalization and expressive capabilities of humanoid robots, as well as increasing the diversity of robotic movements, will be critical.
The second challenge is data. Robotics is currently facing a severe data shortage, and better utilization of limited available data is essential. Third, the scalability of reinforcement learning needs further development.
Despite these hurdles, Wang remains cautiously optimistic. “Some are optimistic and suggest it could take 18 months,” he said. “I’m more pessimistic and think it could take 2–3 years — but it could also happen very quickly.”
Previously, Unitree humanoid robots performed a public showcase near the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.
