Robot retail becomes reality at China's first humanoid robot 7S store

The opening of China's first-ever "7S" humanoid robot store in Wuhan late last year has made the once far-fetched notion of owning a robot a reality for many, offering a one-stop shop for people to experience, lease and purchase robots designed for everything from personal companionship to carrying out industrial services.

The store is located in a shopping mall in the Wuhan East Lake High-Tech Development Zone, a key tech and innovation hub in central China's Hubei Province known as the "Optics Valley of China".

Since opening last November, it has become a key local landmark while also symbolizing the commercialization of China's fast-growing robotics sector.

Run by the Hubei Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, the store teaches customers how to use their products, helps carry out robot repairs, and even customizes them to meet specific needs.

Inside the bustling store, robots of various sizes and shapes demonstrate their vast array of capabilities, with some playing soccer, others serving as helpful retail assistants, while another talented group are able to play musical instruments.

Visitors from overseas are naturally enthralled by their abilities, with some keen to snap photos of an energetic dancing robot, while others are even happily engaging in conversation.

"I was really very impressed. I had a little interaction with the robot. I asked its name, and it answered. I asked, 'What do you think about the climate?' and it answered me exactly as I expected, using real human words," said Rajaobarielina Faratiana, acting director of legal, consular, and litigation affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Madagascar.

The retail concept of the "7S" store looks to build on the more widely-known "4S" model which is common in the auto sector, where a car dealership may offer sales, spare parts, after-sales services and a follow-up survey to customers.

In a similar vein, this novel idea of the 7S store aims to be a one-stop hub for the humanoid robotics industry, covering the entire industrial chain from components and whole machines to scenario-based applications.

"The traditional model has four 'S's' -- sales, spare parts, service, and information survey. On top of that, we have added three more 'S's' -- custom solutions, product showcase, and professional skills training for robots," said Liu Haifeng, the executive store manager of the Wuhan shop.

China's humanoid robot industry saw significant growth throughout 2025, backed by mid-to-long-term plans at both the national and local government level, targeting it as a key strategic sector.

The 7S store represents a pioneering step in exploring viable commercial models and market acceptance for this transformative technology, and comes as part of a national wave of robot-themed retail experiments to promote the real-life application of humanoid robots.

Robot retail becomes reality at China's first humanoid robot 7S store

Legions of security officers and police have been mobilized for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to safeguard fans, players, and venues, as the tournament faces unprecedented security challenges.

On the day of a send-off match in Chicago, a heavy police presence greeted football fans as the United States faced Germany. Heavy municipal vehicles provided a ring of protection for spectators outside the stadium, and all spectators underwent security checks upon entry.

One of the key concerns is that this tournament takes place against the backdrop of the U.S. war with Iran. Richard Kolko, a retired FBI special agent and member of the U.S. security team at four Olympic Games, said the situation has undoubtedly exacerbated people's concerns.

"Security at these games is critical, and people are worried about every potential threat out there. There are agencies and organizations that are seeking out any threats that may be bubbling up from around the world, either online, using sources, and of course, it's a very difficult time in the world right now, so that kind of elevates the concern," Kolko said.

Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament, recently demonstrated its security readiness with a training exercise. The country is deploying 100,000 security officers and has also tightened security at high-profile tourism sites following a shooting at the country's Teotihuacan archeological zone in April that left one Canadian tourist dead.

There are also concerns around gun violence in the United States.

A mass shooting last weekend in Kansas City, Missouri, one of the World Cup host cities, was the 171st mass shooting this year, defined by Gun Violence Archive as an event in which four or more people are killed or injured.

Anti-drone technology will be used around World Cup stadiums, as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently stated that drones remain its biggest concern.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup provides an unprecedented security challenge. Taking in 16 host cities across three countries, this is the most spread-out World Cup ever.

According to Kolko, each of these cities will not only need to protect the game venues, but also the businesses and public places that will see increased traffic due to the event.

"Guarding the stadium, that's truly the easiest part. They could do that with the guards, gates, and guns, and including that air cover that will be necessary. It's those soft targets outside the stadium. When you think about the parking lots, or the places people are going around the games, the restaurants. Those are much harder to secure. But law enforcement has to be ready for anything," Kolko said.

The security operation at this World Cup is expected to cost more than one billion U.S. dollars and will involve a multitude of federal agencies, state and local police departments and private security companies.

Security overdrive for 2026 FIFA World Cup to address multiple challenges