Entertainment · updated 1h ago · 2 min read
Unitree Humanoid Robots Walk Vogue World Milan Runway During “The Age of Intelligence”
Four Unitree humanoid robots walked the Vogue World Milano runway on Sept 22, 2026. They performed during Act IV titled "The Age of Intelligence."
Whether robots served the craft theme.
10 of 12 outlets skipped it: vogue World credited OpenAI as providing additional support.
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Vogue
““The robots came into the conversation to represent this very moment that we’re living through, which is the beginning of robotics,” says Vogue World 2026: Milano’s creative director, Juan Costa Paz.”Read the original ↗
dscene magazine criticises the robots as empty tech display, while Vogue defends them as an intentional theme about robotics and AI.
Robots at Vogue World
Vogue World in Milan put robots on the runway during the show’s segment titled "The Age of Intelligence" at the historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on September 22. 1news.az, citing Vogue, said the program consisted of five thematic parts and that dancing robots appeared on the runway as part of a performance dedicated to the interaction of fashion and modern technology. VThe show’s concept framed "The Age of Intelligence" as the moment when traditional Italian craftsmanship meets the technologies of the future, and the program also featured intelligent and sustainable materials capable of responding to temperature, movement, and environmental conditions.
“The program consisted of five thematic parts, one of which was titled "The Age of Intelligence."”
Humanoid robots from Chinese robotics company Unitree entered the Galleria during "The Age of Intelligence" and walked, gestured, and waved their arms at the audience. The robots wore no clothes and offered little beyond the novelty of seeing humanoid machines walking through the Galleria.
Celebrities and the show
El Universo said the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan became the stage for the fifth Vogue World on September 22, with figures from music, cinema, sport, and modeling appearing on the runway. VEl Universo named J Balvin, Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, and Sam Claflin among the protagonists, and it also listed Cardi B, Adria Arjona, Aryna Sabalenka, Machine Gun Kelly, Alex Consani, and other celebrities. El Universo said the opening act was led by model Gigi Hadid, who appeared in a gala dress with a printed pattern to inaugurate "The Artisanal Revolution."
NEWS.am STYLE said the opening act, titled "The Craft Revolution," was led by Gigi Hadid, and it described the model appearing in a striking printed dress. NEWS.am STYLE said the fourth and final act, "The Age of Intelligence," starred Machine Gun Kelly, with his walk accompanied by dancing robots.
Debate over tech and fashion
Cosmopolitan said the internet focused on the inclusion of robots on the runway and argued that the theme of this year’s runway had to do with Italian craftsmanship. "The robots are ready to take over everything, even something celebrating human craftsmanship," and it described the moment as awkward and stiltedly hyping up the crowd. Diario Mendoza framed Vogue World 2026 as a debate about what role robots and artificial intelligence will play in fashion and how much space artisanal work will continue to have.V
Diario Mendoza said the discussion raised the question of who remains exclusively responsible for tasks when machines can walk the catwalk, design, and produce garments. Vogue World used robot models to reflect the future of fashion, while it also presented artisanal designs as a reminder of what technology cannot yet fully substitute, including "the personality, the imperfection, and the unique character that human hands bring to a creation."