The Unassuming Edward Warchocki
Conversations with Edward Warchocki may lead one to perceive him as an ordinary individual. Described by his creator, Bartosz Idzik, as “not exceptionally intelligent, yet highly expressive and easy to warm up to,” Edward captivates attention. However, a moment of silence serves as a reminder of his true identity: a humanoid robot standing at just over 1.20 metres tall, navigating the streets of a Polish city.
Six months ago, Idzik and his friend Radosław Grzelaczyk conceived the idea of acquiring a humanoid robot from China. They named it “Edward Warchocki” in tribute to Grzelaczyk’s dog, Eddie, and the Polish word ‘warczeć’ (to growl), while also ensuring it sounded like a typical Polish name. During the initial outings, Edward remained mute, causing evident trepidation among passersby. In response, Idzik, a software developer, connected Edward to a large language model that enabled live conversations in Polish.
“Once he began to speak, people developed an affection for him. Without speech, he was merely a 40-kilogram machine,” Idzik noted. Before long, Edward garnered numerous friends, visiting the Polish Parliament, engaging with politicians, hiking up mountains, wading into lakes, and even being playfully apprehended by the police. A video of him chasing wild boars in Warsaw while sporting a backpack and a Rolex went viral globally in April, and he now boasts over a million followers and four billion views across social media platforms.
The Rise of Robotic Influencers
Chances are, you have encountered at least one of these humanoid influencers garnering attention worldwide. There’s Rizzbot, donning a cowboy hat and flirting with pedestrians in Austin; Bart Robot, who breakdanced with Knicks fans in New York to celebrate the team’s historic victory; and the Brickell Clanker, who donned various shirts to celebrate World Cup fans after each match.
However, unless you have been particularly observant, you might not have realised that all these robots share the same model: the Unitree G1, one of the most accessible and affordable humanoid robots available today, produced by a leading Chinese robotics company. The G1, roughly the size of a child, features a hollow face encircled by a blue light ring and light grey limbs crafted from aluminium. Its appearances span from America’s Got Talent to kung fu demonstrations, boxing matches, parkour, dance concerts, and even live streaming with popular personalities.
An anonymous user on social media aptly summed it up: “This robot is fantastic!”
Unitree’s Market Impact and Challenges
Unitree is set to launch an initial public offering (IPO) in China within the next fortnight. Their financial report highlights the popularity of their products: unlike most robotics companies still testing their innovations in laboratories, more than half of Unitree’s revenue in 2025 stemmed from the sale of humanoid robots to actual customers. In that year, they sold 5,511 humanoids at an average price of under $25,000 each, with 43% of sales coming from outside China. Remarkably, the company achieved profitability for the first time last year.
Idzik remarked, “We tested numerous humanoid robots, and the G1 proved to be the best for its intended purpose. We are accustomed to seeing China replicate innovations, but in the realm of humanoid robots, it is the others who should be looking to China for inspiration.” Despite its commercial success, the company and its robots often face scepticism. While they can perform eye-catching tasks that delight audiences, questions linger regarding their capability to undertake traditional roles that contribute to the economy, such as assembly line work or house cleaning. Can a Unitree G1 truly hold a real job?
The Decision to Buy or Rent a Robot
Jake Cooperstein, a 24-year-old resident of Miami, attributes his inspiration for creating his own humanoid influencer to Edward and other similar cases. In January, he visited a robotics store in New York, where he tested the Unitree G1, and was impressed by its ease of operation. The following day, he placed an order and paid a deposit.
On Unitree’s website, a basic G1 robot is priced at $13,500, not including tariffs, shipping costs, or taxes. An American distributor, however, lists it for around $19,000. Unsatisfied with that option, Cooperstein opted for the U5 variant, designed for educational buyers. This version offers more components and greater customisation potential, albeit at a price of $66,000.
Cooperstein named his G1 robot Brickell Clanker, reflecting the name of a downtown Miami neighbourhood, and began taking it out to interact with the public. Brickell Clanker found fame this summer at the post-match parties during the World Cup, showcasing various shirts from Argentina, Brazil, and the USA. Currently, Cooperstein primarily earns income by charging a fee for bringing Brickell Clanker to influencer parties, nightclubs, and corporate events, with rates ranging from $800 to $1,200 per hour, depending on the robot’s activities.
Recently, he acquired another robot, a Unitree R1. Priced at nearly a third of the G1’s base price, this faster and lighter model represents Unitree’s endeavour to make humanoids even more accessible. He has dubbed his new robot Lil Clanker.
The Uncertain Future of Robot Acquisition
It remains uncertain whether Cooperstein will continue to purchase robots from Unitree. In July, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States announced a ban on new humanoid robots manufactured in China. Models that have already received necessary approvals, such as the Unitree G1 and R1, are theoretically still permitted, yet their future remains unclear. What is certain is that when Unitree unveils its next generation of humanoid robots, they will not be able to sell them in the United States.
Unitree did not respond to a request for comment.
Technical Limitations of Humanoid Robots
In Europe, Edward Warchocki encounters fewer obstacles. Idzik notes that MERA Robotics, the company he co-founded with Grzelaczyk, now operates a fleet of 20 humanoid robots, most of which are Unitree G1 models. All the robots in Poland share Edward’s personality, while some in the Middle East and Southeast Asia serve as different influencers.
Although the large language model allows the robots to engage in free conversation, they are still constrained by numerous physical limitations. Both Idzik and Cooperstein admit that they often remotely control the robots when they venture outdoors. While the Unitree G1 is theoretically capable of navigating its environment autonomously, they are concerned that a malfunction could pose a risk to pedestrians, raising safety issues.
The G1 robot acquired by Cooperstein came with about 20 pre-programmed gestures and 15 dance steps. Beyond these, technical knowledge is required to programme new movements. For instance, he taught Brickell Clanker to mimic the characteristic “Viking row” gesture that football fans from Norway performed earlier this year.
Cooperstein vividly recalls the first day he took Brickell Clanker to the World Cup fan festival, where hundreds of people, including journalists, surrounded the humanoid and cheered as it danced. “No one realises I am the one controlling it. I blend in with the crowd. I simply look around and observe everyone, thinking, ‘My goodness, this is the future!’” he concludes.