Has the "Service Era" of Humanoid Robots Arrived?
Keenon's humanoid robot XMAN-F1 shines at WAIC, serving drinks, popcorn & more. Is the 'Service Era' for robots here?
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On July 26, 2025, the central exhibition area of the Shanghai Expo Exhibition Hall was bustling with crowds.
The air in the Expo Exhibition Hall was filled with the caramel scent of popcorn, drawing people to the prime spot of Keenon Robotics’ booth in the central exhibition area. To their surprise, it was a pair of mechanical arms from a humanoid robot handing out paper bags to the audience.
The scene of Keenon’s bipedal humanoid robot, XMAN-F1, preparing iced drinks and making popcorn in the central WAIC exhibition area kept the crowd lingering, phones in hand, reluctant to leave.
As I squeezed into the dining bar area, I happened to hear the robotic arm handing popcorn to a child, and the little boy instinctively said, "Thank you, robot" after receiving it—a scene that was undoubtedly striking.
Not long ago, images of Tesla’s Optimus serving popcorn under the retro neon lights of a Tesla diner went viral globally, highlighting that the battlefield for humanoid robots has extended far beyond factory floors.