Tech Desk 
Apr 27, 2025
Stealing the esteemed show in Hanover, Germany, G1 humanoid robot from Chinese tech firm Unitree stunned visitors at the Hannover Messe trade show, offering them a sneak peek into the the future of robotics.
The G1 robot stood just 130cm tall, and yet impressed the crowd with its smooth handshakes, coordinated movements, and dance-like gestures.
Although it was operated remotely during the demonstration, Pedro Zheng, Unitree’s sales manager, explained the G1 humanoid robot can be programmed to carry out autonomous tasks, imitating and making possible human-like actions which are rarely seen in traditional robots.
While experts have been warning of real-world challenges like unpredictable environments and limited AI reasoning skills, Unitree is one of countless Chinese companies rushing to develop humanoid robots capable of performing tirelessly without demanding much rest or consuming power.
“Today’s robot AI struggles with basic logic and reasoning,” a Unitree spokesperson told the BBC.
Unitree G1 robot is listed at a price point of $16,000 (£12,500) which will primarily be sold to research institutes and tech firms to support further development in the respective field.
The trend of humanoid robots is mostly being witnessed in factories, with Tesla, BMW, and Hyundai investing heavily in the landscape of robotics.
