Potential role of humanoid robots in workforce showcased at top tech event in Las Vegas

Futuristic humanoid robots are taking center stage at the ongoing 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, as developers show off the increasing physical prowess of their creations and discuss ways to integrate them into the general workforce.

The annual show, considered the world's premier technology event, opened on Tuesday, attracting thousands of exhibitors from more than 155 countries and regions, according to organizers.

Alongside a host of innovations, including a number of AI-powered products and prototypes, the emergence of increasingly advanced humanoid robots and their impressive mobility has been catching the attention of attendees.

One of the most eye-catching robots on show is 'Wanda', which is capable of carrying out a number of household tasks from handling dishes, making beds and doing the laundry, to even brewing traditional Chinese tea and mixing drinks. It has been developed by Chinese company UniX AI, which says it is delivering more than 100 of these humanoids to clients every month.

Fred Yang, the firm's founder and CEO, said Wanda has already shown it can be deployed effectively in the hospitality sector.

"The applications are mainly in the hotel [industry] and the security scenario. So in the hotel, for now, we can already finish like 50 (percent) to two-thirds of whatever the cleaner in the hotel can already do," he said.

Yang said the humanoid has arms with eight degrees of freedom, giving it greater flexibility and allowing it to replicate fine motor skills.

However, he admitted that their robots aren't yet perfect, noting that the bright lights in the expo hall affect Wanda's precision in pouring tea. Yang said efforts are underway to further improve the robot's accuracy and precision, and to enable it to adapt to the different environments it may encounter in the real world.

"The ultimate goal is always going into the home, because the customer side is the largest market in the world. I believe we do have some challenges facing different rooms because different rooms have different layouts, different stuff and whatever. So, I think going into the hotel is kind of an intermediate step," he said.

Meanwhile, leading U.S. company Boston Dynamics is proudly demonstrating its next generation 'Atlas' robot in public for the first time at this year's CES.

The new, fully-electric Atlas was first announced in 2024, after the firm retired its previous hydraulic model that had been in development for several years.

The more fluid movement of the new incarnation was clear to see during this debut appearance at the tech show, as it demonstrated autonomous skills and the ability to unload racks with the guidance of a human tele-operator trainer.

Brian Ringley, Boston Dynamics' Distinguished Product Manager, said Atlas can lift a weight of up to 30 kilograms, and is already performing real work in factories belonging to Hyundai, the firm's parent company.

"We are pursuing tasks that are difficult for people to do, that are exhausting for them to do and also that are understaffed currently. So, these are roles where factories actually can't produce enough or reach the efficiency levels they need to, because they simply cannot hire the workforce to do that. We are going to augment that workforce," he said.

Amid concerns that the development of these humanoids could threaten people's jobs, Ringley stressed the company is studying human and humanoid robot collaboration carefully as the nature of work continues to evolve.

"I think people should be welcoming them as a productivity enhancer and kind of free those people up. Robots also create types of jobs -- the way that these robots are trained, the way that these robots will be managed," he said.

Potential role of humanoid robots in workforce showcased at top tech event in Las Vegas

Potential role of humanoid robots in workforce showcased at top tech event in Las Vegas

A charismatic Chinese influencer is again leading the biggest winter party at northeast China's Harbin Ice-Snow World, as he whips up a carnival atmosphere among the enthusiastic crowds who have converged on China's "ice city".

Jiang Kedong, known by his online moniker of "Brother Left and Right", is playing a central role as the main host of the colorful performances taking place at the Harbin Ice-Snow World, the world's largest ice-and-snow theme park.

Jiang is one of the most passionate ambassadors of Harbin and has become a hugely popular character online as he shares his love for his hometown.

"I used to have 200 followers. Now I've got 680,000. Many people consider me an internet celebrity, and say that I've put an entire city on the map. But honestly, I don't think this is true. It was the city that got noticed first, and then people happened to find me here. So, the city's popularity has been good for me," said Jiang.

As night falls, the huge Harbin Ice and Snow World, which spans the size of 140 football fields, transforms into a wondrous fairyland after-dark.

And as the venue's tireless host, Jiang's mission is to fire up more than 50,000 tourists over and over again, every single day, keeping them warm amid the frigid temperatures.

"Why dance in winter? It's a new idea we came up with. The sun's set, you're covered in sweat in a cool breeze. It feels refreshing. This is the romance of Harbin. Those coming from southern China might have even more fun here than indoors. It's so much fun," said Jiang.

China has seen interest in ice and snow sports steadily grow in recent years, with the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics further igniting people's passion. And for those who wish to pursue their love for winter sports, China's northeast is the prime spot, with the coldest weather and the best snow.

Traveling to the famous "ice city" of Harbin to experience the joy of ice and snow has become the hottest topic on social media during the winter months. Hotels and guesthouses have been fully booked out well in advance, while the streets overflow with tourists during this peak season.

Once a major industrial powerhouse in China, Harbin was a place where steel roared and machines never stopped. Even in the harshest winter, smokestacks still billowed warmth, as the fire of industry drove away the cold. But since the 1990s, with the slow transformation of industries, the northeastern region seemed to have become considered as China's "Rust Belt".

Revitalizing the northeast region has been a national strategy for over two decades. The key to reinventing northeast China lays in promoting its notorious snow and ice, the very elements that seemed like the greatest barriers to its development.

"Harbin's success is being celebrated across the Northeast. The joy is heartfelt. We'd been ignored for so long. Now that our moment has come, we'll do all we can to show off our city, Harbin. It's a must," said Jiang.

The attraction's popularity has soared beyond belief, with Jiang saying he and his team are now welcoming more visitors in an average day during this ongoing winter season as they did during the entire week-long Chinese New Year holiday of previous years.

Back in 2012, the entertainment team at the ice and snow park consisted of just eight people, but has now expanded to around 40 in order to keep up with the demand and the skyrocketing visitor numbers.

Looking ahead, the ever-energetic Jiang says the goal is to keep pushing forward and keep the party going, even as some claim Harbin has already peaked.

"I'm a single snowflake in a field of snow. I just happen to have been caught in the spotlight. As long as I am able, and as long as this stage and the audience need me, I'll keep doing it," he said.

Charismatic online star warms up crowds in China's "ice city" of Harbin