A humanoid robot has broken the world record at a half-marathon in Beijing, showcasing China's rapid advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence. The event, held in the Yizhuang district of the capital, featured machines competing against flesh-and-blood runners on separate lanes to prevent accidents, with spectators lining the roads to witness this technological spectacle.
The winning robot, equipped with an autonomous navigation system and representing Chinese smartphone maker Honor, completed the approximately 21km (13-mile) course in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, achieving an average speed of about 25km/h (15.5mph). This performance far exceeded that of the top human runner in Sunday's race and surpassed the current men's world record of 57:20 held by Ugandan athlete Jacob Kiplimo, highlighting a dramatic leap in robotic capabilities.
The result marks significant progress from last year's event, where robots frequently fell and the best finish time was over two hours and 40 minutes. According to organizers, the number of humanoid entries surged from about 20 to more than 100, reflecting growing interest and investment in the sector. The half-marathon aims to foster innovation and popularize the technologies behind such machines, amid broader efforts to integrate robotics into various aspects of life.
Spectators expressed mixed reactions to the technological display. Han Chenyu, a 25-year-old student, barely had time to photograph the leading robot as it sped past, calling the event "pretty cool" but voicing concerns about job displacement due to fast-advancing AI. Xie Lei, 41, who watched with his family, suggested robots could become commonplace within years, potentially handling housework, elderly care, or dangerous tasks like firefighting, though he noted a tinge of sadness at humanity being surpassed in certain domains.
Investment in robotics and embodied AI in China reached 73.5 billion yuan ($10.8 billion) in 2025, according to a government study, underscoring the industry's strength. Xie Lei remarked, "For thousands of years, humans have been at the top on planet Earth. But now, look at robots. Just in terms of autonomous navigation, at least in this specific sport event, they're already starting to surpass us. On one hand, it does make you feel a little bit sad for humanity. But at the same time, technology, especially in recent years, has given us so much imagination."
Source: www.aljazeera.com