Chinese robots ran against humans in the world’s first humanoid half-marathon. They lost by a mile

If the thought of robots taking connected humans successful a roadworthy contention conjures dystopian images of android diversion supremacy, past fearfulness not, for present astatine least.

More than 20 two-legged robots competed successful the world’s archetypal humanoid half-marathon successful China connected Saturday, and – though technologically awesome – they were acold from outrunning their quality masters implicit the agelong distance.

Teams from respective companies and universities took portion successful the race, a showcase of China’s advances connected humanoid exertion arsenic it plays catch-up with the US, which inactive boasts the much blase models.

And the main of the winning squad said their robot – though bested by the humans successful this peculiar contention – was a lucifer for akin models from the West, astatine a clip erstwhile the contention to cleanable humanoid exertion is hotting up.

Coming successful a assortment of shapes and sizes, the robots jogged done Beijing’s southeastern Yizhuang district, location to galore of the capital’s tech firms.

Over the past fewer months, videos of China’s humanoid robots performing motorcycle rides, roundhouse kicks and broadside flips person blown up the internet, often amplified by authorities media arsenic a cardinal imaginable operator of economical growth.

In a 2023 argumentation document, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology identified the humanoid robotics manufacture arsenic a “new frontier successful technological competition,” mounting a 2025 people for wide accumulation and unafraid proviso chains for halfway components.

Fears person mounted successful caller years astir however artificial quality – and robots – whitethorn 1 time outsmart humans.

And portion AI models are accelerated gaining ground, sparking interest for everything from information to the aboriginal of work, Saturday’s contention suggested that humans inactive astatine slightest person the precocious manus erstwhile it comes to running.

The robots were pitted against 12,000 quality contestants, moving broadside by broadside with them successful a fenced-off lane.

After mounting disconnected from a state park, participating robots had to flooded flimsy slopes and a winding 21-kilometer (13-mile) circuit earlier they could scope the decorativeness line, according to state-run outlet Beijing Daily.

Just arsenic quality runners needed to replenish themselves with water, robot contestants were allowed to get caller batteries during the race. Companies were besides allowed to swap their androids with substitutes erstwhile they could nary longer compete, though each substitution came with a 10-minute penalty.

The archetypal robot crossed the decorativeness line, Tiangong Ultra – created by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center – finished the way successful 2 hours and 40 minutes. That’s astir 2 hours abbreviated of the quality satellite grounds of 56:42, held by Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo. The victor of the men’s contention connected Saturday finished successful 1 hr and 2 minutes.

Tang Jian, main exertion serviceman for the robotics innovation center, said Tiangong Ultra’s show was aided by agelong legs and an algorithm allowing it to imitate however humans tally a marathon.

“I don’t privation to boast but I deliberation nary different robotics firms successful the West person matched Tiangong’s sporting achievements,” Tang said, according to the Reuters quality agency, adding that the robot switched batteries conscionable 3 times during the race.

The 1.8-meter robot came crossed a fewer challenges during the race, which progressive the aggregate artillery changes. It besides needed a helper to tally alongside it with his hands hovering astir his back, successful lawsuit of a fall.

Most of the robots required this benignant of support, with a fewer tied to a leash. Some were led by a distant control.

Amateur quality contestants moving successful the different lane had nary trouble keeping up, with the funny among them taking retired their phones to seizure the robotic encounters arsenic they raced along.

For much CNN quality and newsletters make an relationship astatine CNN.com