I met a lot of weird robots at CES — here are the most memorable

At CES, robotics remained a major highlight, showcasing both cutting-edge developments and entertaining demonstrations that hint at future commercial applications. Notably, Boston Dynamics introduced a production-ready humanoid robot, underscoring significant progress in the field. The event featured a variety of robots, from a ping-pong-playing bot by Sharpa designed to showcase its dexterous robotic hand, to humanoid boxing robots from a Chinese company that, despite some clumsy moments, captivated audiences with their lifelike movements. Dancing robots from Unitree, a prominent Chinese manufacturer with potential military ties, also drew attention, demonstrating impressive mobility and coordination. Other memorable robots included a convenience store clerk bot from Galbot, which used multi-modal large language models to interact with customers and retrieve selected items, reflecting real-world deployments in retail and assistance roles. Additionally, Dyna Robotics presented robotic arms capable of folding laundry efficiently, a longstanding challenge in commercial robotics, with established partnerships in hospitality and industrial sectors. Overall, the robots at CES provided