China’s robots are winning the battle for the future

From winning half marathons to mastering Kung Fu, China's humanoid robots are a viral hit. But this isn’t just a show. It’s a battle for the future of humanity.

Unitree’s G1 humanoid performing a Kung-Fu move

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On the outskirts of Beijing last week, thousands of runners took part in a half-marathon alongside 20 humanoid robots, showcasing China’s burgeoning—and downright terrifying—robotics industry.

Tiangong Ultra—a 55 kilogram robot standing 1.8 meters tall—won the race with a time of 2 hours, 40 minutes and 42 seconds. The half-marathon time for an average human generally ranges between 2 to 2.5 hours.

Five other robots also finished the race, supported by teams of human engineers and operators. However, some of the other robots struggled, with one crashing into a railing, causing its human operator to also fall over.

"The robot half-marathon, the world's first such race, marked a new starting gun for the whole industry,” Liang Liang, deputy director of the management committee of Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, and one of the organizers of the race, said.

The event comes as China accelerates its push to develop humanoid robots as part of the broader robotics and artificial intelligence industry. In March, China’s Premier Li Qiang promised to “unleash the creativity of the digital economy”, focusing on “embodied AI”.

Since then, Unitree Robotics, another leading robotics company, is currently preparing for a globally live-streamed humanoid robot boxing match. The company released a promotional video wherein a humanoid robot can been seen sparing with a human and another robot. The livestreamed match, titled “Unitree Iron Fist King: Awakening!” is expected to take place next month.

In the video, the robot is lurching and uncoordinated in comparison to his human opponent. It is unsteady on its feet and loses its balance easily when kicked by its opponent. Nevertheless, it recovered quickly after being knocked to the ground and has made significant gains in full-body movement control.

Unitree’s humanoid robots have also been featured in other promotional videos. During the Spring festival gala in January, the company unveiled a troupe of humanoid robots performing a synchronized Yangko routine, a traditional folk dance known for its sweeping steps and vibrant handkerchiefs. In March, the company released new footage of the robot performing complex kung fu moves. This was followed by another clip of the robot performing a perfect sideflip.

While these robotics developments have been showcased in viral clips highlighting their novelty in sports and entertainment, China’s investment in robotics goes far beyond spectacle—it's about who will shape the future.