Articles and News
$100,000 Humanoid Robot Enters William Barthman’s Rolex Boutique on Fifth Avenue August 13, 2025 (0 comments)
New York, NY--A $100,000 humanoid robot named KOID walked into William Barthman's Rolex boutique on Fifth Avenue, scanned displays, and asked to try on a GMT-Master II. According to Supercar Blondie, the Chinese-built machine entered without handlers, moving directly toward the showroom displays.
[Representative image via iStockphoto.com]
The visit was a staged promotion by KraneShares for its Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence ETF. Inside, boutique staff, accustomed to serving clients on long waitlists, interacted with the robot as it selected a watch and extended its arm for a fitting.
Public reaction was mixed. The report noted that some bystanders filmed the event, while others reacted negatively. One passerby shouted at the robot, and another questioned its "pay." Videos of the incident circulated widely online.
As per the report, Rolex boutiques typically operate under strict purchase protocols, making KOID's direct approach unusual. KraneShares later said that "some people were terrified" by the encounter.
Learn more in this report by Supercar Blondie.