A humanoid robot developed by Chinese smartphone maker Honor has officially broken Usain Bolt's 100-meter world record, clocking in at 9.32 seconds at the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. The robot, nicknamed Lightning, achieved a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second during a preliminary test event.

This remarkable feat surpasses the 9.58-second record set by Jamaican sprinting legend Usain Bolt at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin. The development highlights the rapid advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence that China is actively promoting.

Lightning's performance was announced by China's state broadcaster, CCTV. The robot's previous athletic achievement includes winning the Beijing half marathon in April with a time of 50 minutes and 26 seconds, a pace faster than the elite men's human world record for the distance.

China views humanoid robots as a strategic emerging industry, with significant investment from policymakers and companies aiming to accelerate their integration into manufacturing, logistics, and consumer applications. This record-breaking run is seen as a significant milestone in that push.

Prior to the World Humanoid Robot Games, Lightning underwent modifications. Initially standing 169cm tall with 95cm legs for the half marathon, researchers extended its legs by 10cm to 1.05 meters for the sprinting event, according to CCTV reports.

The World Humanoid Robot Games, which opened on Saturday in Beijing, serve as a platform to showcase the latest innovations in humanoid robotics. The event brings together developers and researchers to compete and display their technological progress.

This record is not only a testament to the engineering behind the "Lightning" robot but also signifies the growing capabilities of AI-driven machines. The potential applications for such advanced robots are vast, ranging from hazardous industrial tasks to sophisticated service roles.

While Bolt's human record has stood for over a decade, the emergence of robots capable of exceeding human physical benchmarks raises new questions about the future of sports, automation, and human-machine interaction. The next steps will likely involve further refinements in speed, agility, and endurance for these artificial athletes.