Honor’s bright-red Lightning bot stunned crowds at Beijing’s half-marathon on Sunday, crossing the 21km finish line in 50:26 — nearly seven minutes faster than the human world record set by Jacob Kiplimo. Over 100 Chinese-made humanoids raced in a dedicated lane alongside 12,000 human runners, marking just the second year robots joined the event.
This year’s results crushed last year’s: the top robot improved from 2 hours 40 minutes to 50:26, with at least four bots breaking the one-hour mark. About 40% ran fully autonomously, while others used teleoperation, but scoring favored self-driving systems to highlight true independence.
The race showcased China’s 150+ humanoid startups, testing balance, battery life, and navigation in real-world chaos. Most robots finished despite a few falls, with recovery systems proving effective — a huge leap from last year’s clunky performers that barely passed the first kilometer.
Progress in one year signals the robotic revolution as the next big wave after GenAI and Agentic AI, set to transform manufacturing, mining, warehousing, and hospitality with tireless, adaptable humanoids.
HUMANOIDS AREN'T COMING—THEY'RE ALREADY OUTRUNNING US!