Can humans and robots face off in a full race? It will happen in Beijing this spring.
Advertisement
For the first time, dozens of humanoid robots are expected to join a half-marathon to be held in the capital’s Daxing district in April, according to local authorities.
This comes as China ramps up efforts to develop artificial intelligence and robotics, to gain an edge in the tech rivalry with the US as well as combat the challenges of an ageing society and a falling birth rate.
Some 12,000 humans will take part in the coming race – and running alongside them on the 21km (13-mile) route will be robots from more than 20 companies, according to the administrative body of Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, or E-Town.
Prizes will be offered for the top three runners.
Advertisement
E-Town is a state-level industrial area in Daxing district, with multiple industrial parks that support hi-tech industries such as aviation manufacturing and semiconductors.