China Hosts World's First Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon in Beijing

Beijing hosted the world’s first humanoid robot half-marathon, where around twenty teams from across China entered bipedal robots alongside thousands of human participants on a 21-kilometer course. Robots of varying sizes and designs, developed by companies like DroidVP, Noetix Robotics, and others, were tested for endurance, adaptability, and engineering prowess, with some running autonomously and others remotely guided. Spectators witnessed robots overcoming falls and technical challenges, highlighting both progress and limitations in current technology. Chinese officials and organizers heralded the event as a milestone for robotics and AI, aiming to position China as a global leader in these fields. However, experts and analysts argue that such marathons primarily demonstrate hardware endurance rather than significant advances in practical applications or artificial intelligence. Despite the spectacle, critics caution that these displays, while impressive, do not necessarily equate to industrial or commercial readiness.