China Hosts World’s First Humanoid Robot Martial Arts Tournament - 1

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China Hosts World’s First Humanoid Robot Martial Arts Tournament

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

China hosted the world’s first humanoid robot martial arts tournament, where clumsy AI-powered bots offered more laughs than terrifying sci-fi moments.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Robots were AI-enhanced but controlled via remote and voice commands.
  • Matches included punches, kicks, and point deductions for knockdowns.
  • Most robots moved awkwardly, resembling toddlers more than fighters.

China achieved a historic milestone by organizing the world’s first humanoid robot martial arts tournament which delivered more comedic than frightening sci-fi elements.

The World Robot Competition – Mecha Fighting Series hosted by China Media Group in Hangzhou on May 25 featured four humanoid robots developed by Unitree Robotics .

PCGamer reports that the G1 model robots measure 132 cm in height and weigh 35 kg while their price tag reaches $16,000. The robots possessed AI movement capabilities yet humans operated them through remote controls and voice commands, as noted by Vice .

The competition consisted of three two-minute rounds for each match. The scoring system awarded one point for punches but three points for kicks and five points for falling. A round loss occurred immediately when a robot stayed down for more than eight seconds while a 10-point deduction applied.

“These robots need to mind their movements and react to their opponent’s moves,” said Li Gaofeng from Zhejiang University, as reported by PCGamer. “All these requirements significantly challenge the robots’ algorithms, electronic parts and speed reducers.”

The bots threw jabs and kicks—some accurate, others hilariously off-target. “Combat fight is a difficult task for humanoid robots due to the intensive confrontation during the fight,” added Li, as reported by PCMag.

Despite their headgear and gloves, most robots looked more like toddlers learning to walk than lethal machines. “It is not easy to teach robots different movements,” said Unitree director Wang Qixin, as reported by Asia Times . “We used AI technology to train them,” Wang added,

Still, the event marked a leap in robotics progress. “Six months ago, people could not imagine humanoid robots performing these movements smoothly,” said Li, as reported by Asia Times.

Chen Xiyun, Unitree’s marketing manager, added, “The algorithms optimized for extreme conditions like combat could potentially benefit our daily lives,” as reported by Vice.

Cybercriminals Use Fake AI Tools To Spread Ransomware and Malware - 2

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Cybercriminals Use Fake AI Tools To Spread Ransomware and Malware

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Cybercriminals disguise ransomware as fake AI tools, exploiting growing AI demand to infect business systems with CyberLock, Lucky_Gh0$t, and Numero malware.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Numero malware pretends to be InVideo AI, corrupting Windows systems.
  • Attackers spread threats via fake sites, search engine manipulation, and Telegram.
  • Ransom demands include $50,000 in Monero, falsely claiming humanitarian use.

Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the growing popularity of AI by disguising malicious software as AI tools. The Talos Intelligence Group at Cisco has detected multiple dangerous threats which endanger businesses that want to acquire new technology solutions.

The researchers identified ransomware families CyberLock and Lucky_Gh0$t join Numero as new destructive malware which impersonates legitimate AI software installers.

CyberLock hides inside a fake website that mimics a real AI lead generation platform. Users who download NovaLeadsAI.exe from the fake website unknowingly install ransomware onto their systems.

After activation CyberLock encrypts essential files before demanding $50,000 in Monero cryptocurrency from victims. The attackers falsely claim the ransom “will be allocated for humanitarian aid in various regions, including Palestine, Ukraine, Africa and Asia,” say the researchers.

The ransomware known as Lucky_Gh0$t uses a fake ChatGPT installer called ChatGPT 4.0 full version – Premium.exe to spread its malware. The attackers embed the ransomware inside a ZIP file containing actual Microsoft AI tools to evade detection.

The ransomware encrypts files under 1.2 GB in size, but it destroys files that exceed this limit. The attackers instruct victims to reach them through a secure messaging platform.

Numero, meanwhile, pretends to be an installer for InVideo AI, a popular video creation tool. Instead of helping users make videos, it corrupts the Windows interface, making systems unusable.

These threats are distributed through search engine manipulation, fake websites, and messaging apps like Telegram. As businesses increasingly adopt AI, attackers are exploiting that interest to spread malware.

Experts urge companies and individuals to verify software sources carefully. “ not only compromises sensitive business data and financial assets but also undermines trust in legitimate AI market solutions.”