The highly anticipated “world’s first humanoid robot half-marathon” was held recently in Beijing with the goal of showcasing robotics achievements.
But rather than presenting ground-breaking innovations, the event demonstrated how far humanoid robots still need to advance.
Twenty-one robots representing cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Suzhou had their own running lane at the 2025 Beijing Yizhuang Half Marathon. By showcasing devices like SE01, which is renowned for its natural stride, Star1, the fastest robot in the world, and NEO Gamma, an AI-powered humanoid butler, the event aimed to advance Chinese robotics.
