In 2025, robots have finally established themselves as not just a technological tool but also a prominent element of popular culture. They have been displayed at exhibitions, municipal events and sports grounds – where impression, dynamism and contact with the viewer are very important. For some protests, the key is still the practical benefits, for others – the impact of presence and the feeling of a future that you can see with your own eyes, the boda portal noted.
At major technology exhibitions, robots have taken on tasks close to everyday life. Some prepare food and work with produce, others act as consultants and assistants, helping to navigate the space, welcome guests and maintain contact. The demonstrations were structured in such a way as to emphasize: service robots are gradually moving beyond industry boundaries and starting to assert a place in regular urban environments.
One of the most discussed robots is the R1 humanoid robot, created by Robbyant, part of the Ant Group. Outwardly, it resembles a person from the waist up, but instead of legs it uses a stable wheeled platform. There is a practical logic to this design: the developers believe that wheels help avoid balance problems common in complete humanoids. The R1 was on display at the IFA show in Berlin, where the robot specifically prepared seafood dishes right in front of visitors – just like in an open kitchen.
Developers explain their interest in humanoid robots by the fact that the “human” form is easier to integrate into the world created for humans. Movable arms, body, and head let you work with familiar objects and interfaces. But recreating gait remains difficult and expensive, so the industry is increasingly opting for a compromise: a human-shaped front end and a realistic wheelbase.
Against this backdrop, the Beijing half-marathon looked especially unusual, where more than 20 humanoid robots competed over a distance of 21 kilometers alongside humans. For the audience, this has become part of the show, as well as a technological test. The vehicles move at different speeds, some require driver assistance, and some participants cannot reach the finish line. The most successful result among the robots was shown by Tiangong Ultra – it covered the distance in a few hours.
By 2025, robotics is at a point where technology increasingly meets culture and spectacle. They already know how to perform applied tasks, but public tests and “appearances on stage” are still an important part of the development process – both technological and human perception. It is such protests that are gradually forming a new norm: robots are becoming familiar participants in a space where they were previously unexpectable.
