Bold claim: a robot kicked the CEO, and it’s stirring a debate about the real risks—and the spectacle—of humanoid robotics. Here’s a fresh, clearer take that preserves every key point while expanding a bit for understanding.
EngineAI, a Chinese robotics startup, recently shared a video featuring its CEO, Zhao Tongyang, being kicked in the stomach by the company’s T800 humanoid robot. In the clip, Tongyang suits up with protective padding on his legs, stomach, and head as curious workers taunt him with questions about his nerve. The moment the robot delivers a kick, Tongyang tumbles to the floor, reacting with the translated remark, “Too violent! Too brutal!”
This video followed another from EngineAI showing the humanoid performing kicks and flips. Online skeptics had speculated that the earlier footage might be CGI. To address the doubt, EngineAI released the new clip of the T800 kicking Tongyang, framing the stunt as an experiment to learn what it feels like for the robot to strike a human.
EngineAI’s latest post notes the startup’s curiosity about the T800’s sensations and describes the stunt as an “experiment” to answer that question. The clip has drawn significant attention on Instagram, amassing thousands of likes (the second video has more than 42,000; the first well over 17,000). It remains unclear whether the T800 was tele-operated (controlled remotely) or moved autonomously during the action.
Separately, PitchBook reports EngineAI raised about $180.69 million in December 2025, in a round led by HPR Capital, Tsinghua Holdings Capital, and Henan Investment Group. The funding underscores the escalating competition in humanoid robotics, where EngineAI sits among other notable players such as Tesla and Boston Dynamics.
Industry context and future plans: In 2026, EngineAI’s Zhongqing team aims to push scenario-based verification and scale up deployment of its products, with the goal of driving industrial upgrades and reshaping a new ecosystem for human–robot coexistence, according to the company’s own videos.
Market outlook and competition: Morgan Stanley has highlighted a roster of 25 companies that could lead the humanoid-robot race, naming names from Nvidia to Sony as potential market dominators. Yet EngineAI wasn’t included on that list.
Tesla’s Optimus robot has also been part of ongoing public demonstrations—ranging from performing Kung Fu on the red carpet with actor Jared Leto to demonstrations of tele-operation during events. Elon Musk has even stated that, in some cases, “nobody was controlling” the robot during these performances.
A common thread across the field is tele-operation: many humanoid robots are still guided by humans from outside the operating space, especially during training or complex tasks. For example, products like Neo, which handles chores such as laundry and dishwashing, have relied on outside control as developers work toward more autonomous capabilities. Tesla’s Optimus, too, has featured tele-operated demonstrations, though the company is gradually shifting toward data collection through cameras and more autonomous training methods.
Bottom line: The staged clip prompts a wide range of reactions—from trepidation about safety and ethics to curiosity about how close we are to true autonomous humanoid operation. It also highlights the ongoing tension between flashy demonstrations and the rigorous testing and validation that undergird scalable, responsible robotics.
What do you think: should demonstrations that blur the line between entertainment and real capability be treated as credible proof of a robot’s reliability, or do they risk shaping public perception in ways that gloss over safety and governance concerns? Share your take in the comments.
