Humans Beat the Bots in World’s First Robot vs. Human Half-Marathon in Beijing

Sports

In a historic blend of sport and science, humans raced past their robotic counterparts to clinch victory at the world’s first human-versus-robot half-marathon in Beijing’s Yizhuang district on Saturday.

Over 2,000 runners took part in the 21-kilometre challenge alongside 21 humanoid robots — each representing cutting-edge advancements in robotics from China’s top tech firms. But while the machines may have wowed onlookers with their futuristic appearance, they struggled to keep pace with their human competitors.

Some robots faltered right out of the gate. One collapsed seconds after the starting gun, remaining motionless for several minutes before rising to continue. Another veered into a barrier early on, crashing alongside its handler.

Despite the setbacks, a few bots did manage to complete the race — albeit far behind the human pack. Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Innovation Centre of Human Robotics, clocked in at 2 hours and 40 minutes, more than an hour slower than the winning human runner.

Still, onlookers were impressed by the spectacle. “The robots are running very well, very stable… I feel I’m witnessing the evolution of robots and AI,” said local AI engineer He Sishu.

However, experts were quick to point out that the race had more novelty value than practical significance. “Generally, these are interesting demonstrations,” said Alan Fern, a robotics professor at Oregon State University, “but they don’t demonstrate much regarding the utility of useful work or any type of basic intelligence.”

The robots, which required handlers and physical assistance throughout the race, weren’t entirely autonomous. Many sported quirky accessories like boxing gloves and headbands, adding to the playful, motorsport-like atmosphere of the event.

Chinese companies including DroidVP and Noetix Robotics showcased their humanoids, each with different designs and capabilities. Organizers framed the event as a glimpse into the future of AI-powered mobility, rather than a traditional sporting competition.

Tang Jian, CTO at Tiangong’s lab, said their sights are now set on practical applications. “A focus going forward will be industrial applications,” he noted, “so they can truly enter factories, business scenarios, and finally households.”

While the robots may not have won this race, the event marked an important step forward in the journey to integrating humanoid machines into everyday life.