Beijing, April 23 (HS) : Despite not matching human speed, Chinese robots are racing ahead in AI competition with the U.S. Last weekend, China’s capital, Beijing, hosted the world’s first half marathon featuring bipedal robots alongside 12,000 human participants. This event highlighted China’s tech advancements, with 21 humanoid robots of various sizes joining the race, controlled remotely and on a separate track.It marked a significant moment amidst escalating U.S.-China technological rivalry.
While China currently ranks second globally, it’s leading in AI patents and closing the gap in AI model quality. China’s startup DeepMind recently developed an affordable ChatGPT-like model, and the government is advocating for humanoid robots to stimulate economic growth against the backdrop of stringent U.S. export controls on AI technology. The aim is to position China as a leader in humanoid robotics by 2027.
In the marathon, the winning robot, Tian Gong Ultra, from the Beijing Innovation Center, finished in 2 hours and 40 minutes, while the human winner completed the race in 1 hour and 2 minutes. Some robots performed fluidly, while others had a more mechanical stride. Beijing aims to integrate these robots into industries and households to boost productivity and address labor shortages.
The event fostered national pride, showcasing China’s dominance in battery production and rare earth elements crucial for robotics.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
