Humans dominated as they swept past 21 humanoid robots in China's first large-scale half-marathon, showcasing their superior speed while two machines struggled badly before collapsing.
Humans dominated the half-marathon as they easily outperformed 21 humanoid robots, despite two machines collapsing during the race. One robot, Tiangong Ultra, finished in 2 hours and 40 minutes, while the men's winner completed the 13-mile challenge over an hour faster. Engineers noted the event showcased robots' stability but highlighted their limited practical applications for now. Meanwhile, one bot crashed after a few strides, and another hit a barrier before being retrieved by its handler. The race, held in Beijing, was more motorsport-like than a traditional race, with robots fielded by Chinese companies like DroidVP and Noetix Robotics.
The humanoid robots made their debut in Beijing's half-marathon, facing human rivals with mixed success as some robots struggled while others finished but were slower. The robots, developed by Chinese firms, faced issues like collapse and obstacles, though a few machines completed the race. Experts viewed these trials as stepping stones toward practical AI applications rather than demonstrating advanced intelligence or utility in real-world tasks.