A Chinese-made Unitree G1 humanoid robot has become a global social-media phenomenon through accounts such as Poland’s Edward Warchocki, which can hold live conversations using a large language model. The robots’ popularity highlights how comparatively affordable, commercially available humanoids are moving beyond laboratory demonstrations into public entertainment and influencer culture, while raising questions about their practical economic value.

Unitree’s roughly four-foot-tall G1 is being used by creators worldwide for stunts, dancing and interactions with strangers, helping accounts attract billions of views. Unitree shipped 5,511 humanoid robots in 2025 at an average price below $25,000, with 43 percent of sales outside China; more than half its revenue came from deliveries to customers and it became profitable for the first time. The company is preparing to list on China’s stock market, though sceptics question when such robots will perform useful jobs such as cleaning or factory work.