Are you a marathon runner? AI is coming for your job, too. China is organizing what could be one of the weirdest races in history: a half-marathon where 12,000 humans will compete against an army of humanoid robots to see who’s the best long-distance runner. The 21-kilometer race in Beijing’s Daxing district isn’t just another tech demo. More than 20 companies are bringing their best walking robots to compete, and they’re playing for real money—the top three finishers get prizes regardless of whether they’re made of flesh or metal. This would be the first time humanoid robots race a full 21-kilometer course. Last year, robots were able to join a race without having to complete the full route. The Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (E-Town), which is organizing the event, includes a strict no-wheels policy, and the bots actually need to look human-ish and walk on two legs. They need to be between 0.5 and 2 meters tall—so no giant mechs or tiny robot cars will be sneaking in.

Full story : Humans vs. humanoids: China plans world’s first race pitting man against robots.