Robots break world record in Beijing half-marathon
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 1
Robots break world record in Beijing half-marathon
10 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 1
All three podium robots beat Jacob Kiplimo's 57:20 mark, with Honor's Lightning finishing nearly seven minutes quicker in Beijing.
The result marked a sharp advance from 2025, when most robot entrants failed to finish and winner Tiangong took 2hr 40min after three battery changes.
The report says AI-driven sports robots are increasingly used as training and research tools, with examples from basketball, table tennis and RoboCup rather than as mainstream spectator competitions.
As robots shatter human records, what new rules will be needed for fair human-AI sporting competitions?
If robots achieve athletic perfection, must they also learn to fail to keep human fans watching?
When an AI coach's training plan injures an athlete, who is legally responsible for the harm caused?