Latest news with #GlobalHumanoidandEmbodiedIntelligenceIndex
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Watch: Robot walks into Rolex store in New York, leaves people stunned
A humanoid robot named KOID, developed by a Chinese firm, caused a stir on Fifth Avenue by interacting with people and even trying on a Rolex watch. This PR stunt, promoting a new AI ETF, sparked fascination and fear among onlookers. The event ignited discussions about the increasing role of AI and robotics in society. On an otherwise regular day on Fifth Avenue, New Yorkers encountered a scene that looked straight out of a sci-fi film: a humanoid robot casually strolling past storefronts, waving to pedestrians, and even walking into a Rolex boutique to try on a watch. Meet KOID, a humanoid robot developed by a Chinese robotics firm. Retailing at approximately $100,000 or INR 800,000 the robot quickly drew crowds and viral curiosity, not just for its realistic movements, but for the human-like way it interacted with the world around it. The unusual scene was part of a marketing campaign by a company promoting their new Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF. The American partner of the company documented robot's outing on Instagram, including a now-viral clip where the robot steps into a Rolex store and is assisted by a sales representative while trying on a Rolex GMT-Master II with a blue bezel and black dial. The gesture, so mundane for a human, looked uncannily natural on the robot, prompting both fascination and alarm. Fascination meets fear The spectacle quickly became a social media sensation, with NewYorkers Live capturing on-the-ground reactions. A young girl described the robot as 'cool' but cautiously added, 'as long as they don't take over the world.' Others were more apprehensive. One man said he found it 'scary' and wouldn't want it near his children. There were also humorous takes, one passerby joked, 'Is the robot getting paid as much as I am?' Of course, the inevitable Terminator comparisons surfaced too. 'It's giving Judgment Day,' someone quipped, referencing the Hollywood franchise where machines rebel against their creators. But not all reactions were dystopian. One observer pointed out the positive possibilities, likening KOID to other helpful machines we already rely on - trucks, elevators, even smartphones. 'It's still just a machine,' he said. 'If it helps reduce our daily burden, why not?' The bigger picture While the PR stunt succeeded in going viral, it also opened up larger conversations about the growing presence of AI and robotics in everyday life. With humanoid robots getting eerily close to human dexterity and social intelligence, how we choose to integrate or regulate their role remains a question for both policymakers and the public. But for now, robot's walk down Fifth Avenue stands as a surreal reminder that the future is not coming. It's already here, wearing a Rolex.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Hot Dogs, Selfies, Sneakers: Humanoid Robot Grabs New York City's Attention
New Delhi: A humanoid robot marched through Midtown Manhattan last week, causing a stir and drawing shocked stares in the heart of New York City. The robot, branded KOID and priced at around $100,000 (Rs 87.2 lakh), was deployed by global asset management firm KraneShares in a marketing stunt to promote its new Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF, which launched in June. The robot had previously rung the Nasdaq opening bell. During the stunt, KOID was seen walking along Fifth Avenue, grabbing a hot dog, posing for selfies, and even walking into a Hoka store, where startled staff helped it try on sneakers. The event was filmed and posted to Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by New Yorkers (@newyorkers) A blind man praised the technology as "wonderful," suggesting it could one day help people who can't use guide dogs due to allergies or other issues. Another passerby said, "I mean, I would love for it to clean my house." Not all reactions were positive. "To mess with humanity . . . y'all gotta stop. Satan, I rebuke you to hell," one man yelled. Asked about a potential robot-led future, a woman said, "It's going to happen." The robot was built by Chinese robotics company Unitree and supplied by Long Island-based RoboStore. It operates using Stanford's OpenMind software and, while remote-controlled during the Midtown walk, is fully programmable and already in use at research labs and universities. Since the ETF's launch, KraneShares reports $28 million in assets under management. According to KraneShares' marketing head Joseph Dube, "At some point these robots will be so common that it's not going to have the wow factor that it currently has. We're definitely taking advantage of a moment in time." According to the Morgan Stanley Global Humanoid Model, the humanoid robotics market could grow to 1 billion units and generate $5 trillion in annual revenue by 2050.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Humanoid robot roams NYC, tries on sneakers, grabs hot dogs, and amazes New Yorkers
In July 2025, KraneShares introduced KOID, a $100,000 humanoid robot, in Midtown NYC to promote their Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF. The stunt involved KOID walking down Fifth Avenue, interacting with people, and even trying on sneakers at a Hoka store, generating mixed reactions from amazement to fear. People in Midtown, New York City (NYC), were left amazed and flabbergasted after the humanoid marched through Midtown. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Content creator Ben Sweeney orchestrated full scene Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Some onlookers were hopeful People in Midtown, New York City (NYC), were left amazed and flabbergasted after the humanoid marched through Midtown. While strolling on roads, the humanoid was seen grabbing hot dogs, trying on sneakers, and catching attention in a wild promo stunt. The KOID-branded bot, priced around $100,000, was rolled out last week by global asset management firm KraneShares to promote its Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF, which launched in June after the bot rang the Nasdaq opening a global asset management firm, introduced the KOID-branded bot in July 2025 for about $100,000. It was launched to promote their Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF, which started in June, 2025 after the bot rang the Nasdaq opening Dube, head of marketing at KraneShares, said, 'I feel like I was witnessing firsthand . . . the first lightbulb or the first car,' as quoted by the New York Post. 'People were amazed. Some people were terrified. It was a major mixed bag of reactions,' he added. During the stunt, the bot walked down Fifth Avenue, stopped for selfies, and strolled into a Hoka store, where surprised staff even helped it try on creator Ben Sweeney set up the entire scene, filming for the @NewYorkers social account and chatting with people on the street. The videos went viral online, with some getting over 100,000 likes.'To mess with humanity . . . y'all gotta stop. Satan, I rebuke you to hell,' one man on the street shouted, according to New York Post. 'How much am I getting paid, and how much is the robot getting paid?' another asked. 'It's going to happen,' a woman said when asked about a potential robot takeover.A blind man called the tech 'wonderful,' noting it could help people who can't have guide dogs due to allergies or other limitations. 'I mean, I would love for it to clean my house,' another passerby said. KOID, developed by Chinese robotics company Unitree and distributed by RoboStore in Long Island, is powered by Stanford's OpenMind bot was controlled remotely during its Fifth Avenue walk, but according to Dube, it's fully programmable and already in use in research labs and universities. Since launch, KraneShares says the ETF has drawn in $28 million. According to the NY Post, the Morgan Stanley Global Humanoid Model projects that there could be 1 billion humanoids and $5 trillion in annual revenue by 2050.
Economic Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Humanoid robot roams NYC, tries on sneakers, grabs hot dogs, and amazes New Yorkers
Synopsis In July 2025, KraneShares introduced KOID, a $100,000 humanoid robot, in Midtown NYC to promote their Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF. The stunt involved KOID walking down Fifth Avenue, interacting with people, and even trying on sneakers at a Hoka store, generating mixed reactions from amazement to fear. TIL Creatives People in Midtown, New York City (NYC), were left amazed and flabbergasted after the humanoid marched through Midtown. People in Midtown, New York City (NYC), were left amazed and flabbergasted after the humanoid marched through Midtown. While strolling on roads, the humanoid was seen grabbing hot dogs, trying on sneakers, and catching attention in a wild promo stunt. The KOID-branded bot, priced around $100,000, was rolled out last week by global asset management firm KraneShares to promote its Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF, which launched in June after the bot rang the Nasdaq opening a global asset management firm, introduced the KOID-branded bot in July 2025 for about $100,000. It was launched to promote their Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF, which started in June, 2025 after the bot rang the Nasdaq opening Dube, head of marketing at KraneShares, said, 'I feel like I was witnessing firsthand . . . the first lightbulb or the first car,' as quoted by the New York Post. 'People were amazed. Some people were terrified. It was a major mixed bag of reactions,' he added. During the stunt, the bot walked down Fifth Avenue, stopped for selfies, and strolled into a Hoka store, where surprised staff even helped it try on creator Ben Sweeney set up the entire scene, filming for the @NewYorkers social account and chatting with people on the street. The videos went viral online, with some getting over 100,000 likes. 'To mess with humanity . . . y'all gotta stop. Satan, I rebuke you to hell,' one man on the street shouted, according to New York Post. 'How much am I getting paid, and how much is the robot getting paid?' another asked. 'It's going to happen,' a woman said when asked about a potential robot takeover. A blind man called the tech 'wonderful,' noting it could help people who can't have guide dogs due to allergies or other limitations. 'I mean, I would love for it to clean my house,' another passerby said. KOID, developed by Chinese robotics company Unitree and distributed by RoboStore in Long Island, is powered by Stanford's OpenMind bot was controlled remotely during its Fifth Avenue walk, but according to Dube, it's fully programmable and already in use in research labs and universities. Since launch, KraneShares says the ETF has drawn in $28 million. According to the NY Post, the Morgan Stanley Global Humanoid Model projects that there could be 1 billion humanoids and $5 trillion in annual revenue by 2050.
