A stage performance featuring humanoid robots at a concert by US-born singer-songwriter Wang Leehom in China drew global attention this week, including a reaction from Tesla chief executive Elon Musk.
The moment surfaced after a video from Wang’s concert in Chengdu, in southwest China’s Sichuan province, circulated widely on social media platforms. The footage showed a group of humanoid robots performing coordinated dance routines alongside human dancers during the live show.
Musk responded to a post on X that described the performance, writing a single word: “Impressive.”
The post Musk reacted to read: “Robots in China are doing it all now, even dancing on stage like pros. Here Unitree robots doing Webster flips and are performing at Chinese-American singer Wang Leehom’s concert in Chengdu.”
The video showed six humanoid robots executing synchronised choreography on stage. The robots were seen performing various dance steps closely matched with the tempo of the music and the movements of the human performers. Toward the end of the routine, all six robots completed a Webster flip simultaneously.
Wang Leehom held the concert in Chengdu on Thursday as part of his ongoing Best Place Tour. According to Hangzhou Daily, the robots appeared during a performance of his song "Open Fire". The publication reported that the robots used in the show were developed by Unitree Robotics, a Hangzhou-based robotics firm.
A statement published on Wang’s official website described the performance as a notable moment during the tour. “Wang Leehom created a truly unforgettable moment at his Chengdu concert, part of the ongoing Best Place Tour, by dancing live with robotic dancers on stage,” the statement said. “The performance marked a rare example of a Robotic Dancer in concert, blending advanced technology with powerful live music.”
The statement added: “The Chengdu audience responded with thunderous applause, capturing the moment on their phones and sharing it widely online. Many fans praised the performance as one of the most creative highlights of the Best Place Tour, showing how music and technology can merge seamlessly.”
The video also triggered extensive discussion online, with several users referencing Optimus, the bipedal humanoid robot currently under development by Tesla. One user commented: “Elon, we need a robot Olympics so that robots can compete with each other at different tasks.” Another wrote: “The real US vs. China’s battle isn’t about AI. It’s about dancing robots.” A third said: “They got nothing on Optimus,” while another added: “Holy smokes, we need a Tesla bot to dance better than those guys!”
"We are creating the simulation that we are likely already living in. How’s that for an infinite loop?" a user quipped.
According to information published on the manufacturer’s website, the humanoid robot is described as a “Humanoid agent AI avatar” and is priced at USD 13,500. The company states that the robot is designed to exceed ordinary human flexibility, uses accelerated robotics technology supported by artificial intelligence for continuous upgrades, and includes dexterous hands.
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