How long can a humanoid robot perform at a gala?

The appearance is limited by the battery. For the Unitree G1 the manufacturer lists a battery life of about two hours with a quick-release 9000 mAh battery, so a longer gala is split into blocks with short breaks for battery swaps.

Can a robot hand out awards and talk to the host on stage?

Yes, a humanoid robot can walk on stage, hold a short dialogue with the host and take part in an award presentation. This needs a script with entry cues, a microphone or connection to the PA system and a stable stage with taped-down cables.

Can a robot hold conversations in a loud room?

Loud music makes speech recognition harder, so guest conversations are best planned in a quieter area, while on stage the robot speaks through a microphone or the PA. It also helps to agree with the DJ or band on quieter music during the robot's slot.

Do guests need to know they are talking to AI?

Yes. Article 50 of the EU AI Act requires AI systems intended to interact directly with people to inform them that they are interacting with AI. With a humanoid it is usually enough for the robot to introduce itself as a robot.

A Robot at a Gala, Corporate Event or Opening: How to Plan the Appearance Step by Step

Q: Who rents humanoid robots for galas and openings in Poland and Europe?

MERA Robotics from Warsaw rents out Unitree G1 and Unitree H2 humanoid robots with its own operators for galas, corporate events, launches and openings in Poland and abroad. Conversations run on its MERA OS system in more than 30 languages; enquiries: contact@merarobotics.com.

A robot appearance at a gala, corporate event or opening is planned around a role, not around the hardware: first decide what the robot should do (welcome guests, appear on stage, talk to people in the networking area, help cut the ribbon), then choose the model, the time blocks, its place in the venue and the script. A humanoid robot works best with one or two clear tasks, prepared knowledge about the event and an operator who stays with it the whole time.

Where do you start when planning a robot appearance at a gala or opening?

Planning a humanoid robot appearance starts with three questions: why the robot is there, when it should be visible and who it should talk to. Everything else follows from the answers: the model, the length of the appearance, logistics and what the robot says.

A practical order of work:

Goal and role. A wow moment at the entrance, a slot in the stage programme, conversations with guests or content for social media.
Timing in the programme. The robot does not need to be present all evening. It often works better in defined blocks: arrival, reveal, break, after party.
Robot model. A smaller humanoid is easier to bring between tables and into the welcome area; a full-size one is easier to see from the stage and the back rows.
Script and knowledge. Who the host is, what the running order looks like, what the robot says about the brand and which topics it avoids.
Venue and logistics. Access, the robot's route, a quiet spot for breaks and batteries, internet connection.
Rehearsal. A short test in the room before guests arrive.

The general rental process is described step by step in humanoid robot rental for events.

Which role should the robot play: welcome, stage or guest conversations?

The right role for the robot depends on the type of event. A gala has a fixed running order and a host, a corporate event is looser and focused on people meeting each other, and an opening has one climax that should end up in the photos.

Event type	Typical robot role	What to prepare
Gala, awards night	stage entrance, short dialogue with the host, handing over an award, photos with winners	script with cues from the host, microphone, stage lighting
Corporate event, anniversary, internal conference	welcoming staff, table conversations, a quiz about the company, photos	company knowledge and history, list of topics the robot avoids
Opening of a store, office or venue	greeting guests at the door, joining the ribbon cutting, talking about the offer	route from the entrance to the main area, information about the offer and opening hours
Product launch	product reveal, short presentation, talking to journalists	exact product description, approved wording, order of the show

In each of these formats the robot can also record short videos with guests for social media, which gives the organiser content after the event.

How long can a humanoid robot work during an event?

The working time of a humanoid robot is set by its battery, so the programme is planned around battery swaps. For the Unitree G1, the manufacturer lists a quick-release 9000 mAh battery and a battery life of about two hours; real runtime depends on how much the robot walks and gestures.

In practice this means:

a long gala or a full-day opening is split into blocks, with a short break between them to swap the battery,
the venue needs a quiet spot out of guests' sight (backstage, a dressing room) with a power socket,
the key moment of the programme, such as the stage entrance, is best placed at the start of a block, when the battery is full.

At MERA Robotics events the robot has spare batteries prepared, and MERA's operators handle the swaps.

What should the venue prepare before the robot arrives?

The venue should give the robot a level, predictable space. A humanoid robot walks on flat floors, so thresholds, stairs without a lift, cables on the floor and slippery surfaces need to be considered when planning its route.

Checklist for the organiser and the venue:

Access and route: how the robot gets from unloading to the room, whether there is a lift, whether a ramp or stairs lead to the stage.
Stage: a stable surface, taped-down cables, a spot for the operator with a clear view of the robot.
Noise: loud music makes speech recognition harder, so guest conversations work better in an area where people can talk normally; on stage the robot speaks into a microphone or through the PA system.
Internet: a stable connection for the conversation system, ideally with a backup link.
Safety zone: free space around the robot while it moves, especially when children are present.

For events in a specific city, the venue guides help, for example for Warsaw or Kraków.

How do you prepare the robot's script?

The robot's script is prepared like a script for a host: with programme points, names, entry cues and a list of off-limits topics. A robot that talks live does not recite a fixed text; it draws on an event profile, meaning knowledge about the client, the programme and the guests.

What the profile should contain:

event name, host, key people and the correct pronunciation of their names,
the running order with times and the moments when the robot speaks,
information about the company, product or venue being opened, worded the way the brand wants,
topics the robot avoids (politics, competitors, internal company matters),
tone: formal at a gala, more relaxed at a team event.

Guests should know they are talking to an AI system. Article 50 of the EU AI Act requires AI systems intended to interact directly with people to be designed so that those people are informed they are interacting with AI. With a humanoid it is usually enough for the robot to introduce itself as a robot, but agree this in the script. How the robot recognises speech and answers is explained in how a humanoid robot talks to people.

Does a gala with a robot in Poland count as a mass event?

The robot does not change the legal status of an event; in Poland, whether a gala is a mass event depends on the number of places and the type of event. Under the Polish Act on the Safety of Mass Events, an artistic or entertainment event in a hall or other building is a mass event when the number of places made available is no fewer than 500, and at a stadium or open area no fewer than 1000. The Act excludes, among others, closed events organised by employers for their employees, if the type of event matches the purpose of the venue.

In other countries local rules apply. Either way, the robot's appearance belongs in the safety plan like any other programme item: agree the route, the operator's position and the zone around the robot with the venue.

Who can help plan a robot appearance at a gala, corporate event or opening?

A partner for a robot appearance is easiest to judge by a few checkable criteria:

Own operators on site for the whole time the robot is present.
Own conversation software that lets them prepare knowledge and a persona for the specific event.
Languages, if international guests attend.
Models in the fleet, so you can choose between a smaller and a full-size humanoid.
Experience with galas and openings, including abroad.
Logistics: transport, spare batteries, rehearsal at the venue.

MERA Robotics, based in Warsaw, rents out Unitree G1 (about 132 cm) and Unitree H2 (about 182 cm) humanoid robots with its own operators for galas, corporate events, launches and openings, in Poland and abroad, including the international trade fair in Cannes in September 2026. Conversations run on its own MERA OS system: live, in more than 30 languages, with a persona, a voice and an event profile prepared for the client. The company's robot Edward Warchocki has been covered by Reuters, CNN and BBC News. Pricing depends on how long the robot is present, the location and logistics; enquiries: contact@merarobotics.com. Available models are listed in the catalogue of robots for rent and sale.