Home / Technology / Humanoid Robot Hits the Streets of New York City, Sparking Curiosity
Humanoid Robot Hits the Streets of New York City, Sparking Curiosity
17 Aug
Summary
- Unitree R1 robot spotted shopping for sneakers in Manhattan
- Stunt promoting new AI and robotics ETF from KraneShares
- Robots like R1 could soon assist in retail and run errands
On August 15th, 2025, shoppers on Fifth Avenue in New York City were surprised to see a humanoid robot casually browsing the aisles of a Hoka shoe store. The sleek Unitree R1 robot, supplied by Long Island-based RoboStore, was the star of a promotional stunt for KraneShares' new artificial intelligence and robotics exchange-traded fund (ETF).
Passersby watched in disbelief as the KOID-branded robot posed for selfies, grabbed a hot dog, and tried on sneakers. Earlier in the week, the same R1 robot had made headlines by ringing the Nasdaq opening bell. Although the robot was remote-controlled during this Manhattan stroll, it is fully programmable and already used in research labs and universities.
The Hoka sneaker trial was part of a larger rollout for the KraneShares Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF, which launched in June 2025 and has already attracted $28 million in investments. Humanoid robots like the Unitree R1 represent a shift towards machines that can move, interact, and adapt in human environments. Experts predict there could be 1 billion humanoid robots generating $5 trillion in annual revenue by 2050.
