The marathon-running robot: real progress or engineering vanity project?

Humanoid robot beats the human half marathon record: 50 minutes and 26 seconds

A robot that runs marathons? Yes, and faster than the best human in the world. But there's a catch: it fell crossing the finish line and had to be carried off on a stretcher. The question isn't whether it can run, but why we want it to.

A antiestéticat and a farce in Beijing
In Beijing E-Town, the Chinese capital's tech district, a humanoid robot developed by manufacturer Honor completed a 21 km half marathon in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. The time beats the human world record for the distance, set by Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo. However, the most viral moment wasn't the time, but the robot's fall at the end of the race, as it was carried away on a stretcher. The footage sparked skepticism: some call it an AI-generated hoax, others recall the classic Boston Dynamics videos of robots falling down stairs.

Technical achievement or publicity stunt?
The debate over the real usefulness of bipedal humanoid robots has been reignited. Defenders of the pogre argue that mastering bipedal locomotion is key for environments designed for humans. Critics, however, contend it's an inefficient solution: for the same energy and maintenance cost, a wheeled exoskeleton would offer more stability and practical applications. The fragility shown in the race —the robot could barely stand after crossing the finish line— reinforces doubts about its technological maturity. Moreover, as some analyses point out, the real breakthrough lies not in running, but in performing useful household or industrial tasks, something that still seems far off.

Economic and geopolitical implications
The race was part of a robotics exhibition in China, a country accelerating its investment in artificial intelligence and automation. The recurring question is whether these humanoid robots will ever have a significant economic impact beyond marketing. While some see potential in last-mile delivery or surveillance, others consider them an expensive toy. The comparison with exoskeletons, already used in logistics and rehabilitation, suggests the industry may be taking a costly detour.

Between skepticism and promise
The robot has run more than 99.9% of human runners, but it still can't wash the dishes. Technology is advancing, but not always in the direction we need. Meanwhile, the robot is back in the workshop, and human runners can sleep soundly… or not.