It was really interesting to be interiewed as the AI and Tech Expert on national BBC Radio, to discuss the future of work and especially the future of robots. As I did'nt have time to say on the interview.
Listen to the whole interview here
Welcome to The Fifth Industrial Revolution.
What was this inetrview about well, this is the time for marathons in the UK but earlier this month, something quiet historic happened. While 12,000 humans pounded the streets for the Beijing Half Marathon, a group of 21 humanoid robots joined them — jogging, stumbling, and in one standout case, finishing the entire 13.1 miles in under three hours.
The event wasn’t a stunt. It was a signal. And for those of us watching the future of AI and robotics unfold, it was loud and clear: robots are learning to move like us — and they’re doing it fast.
Source: CNN
Running is More Than Just Movement
Let’s start with this: walking is hard. Running is harder. Not for humans — we’ve been doing it since childhood. But for machines, it’s one of the most complex challenges imaginable. It involves balance, coordination, real-time adjustment, and body awareness — all running on algorithms and sensors.
The fact that China’s “Tiangong” robot finished the half-marathon in 2 hours and 40 minutes was astonishing. And yes, many robots fell over. Some had to be rebooted. Most were supervised by human handlers. But again, this isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress.
Related: Business Insider
This Wasn’t Just a Tech Demo — It Was a Power Statement
The robot marathon wasn’t about sport. It was about showcasing China’s rapidly growing dominance in AI and robotics. Events like this are part theatre, part strategy. They demonstrate capability and ambition. Just like autonomous vehicle parades and drone shows, they’re crafted for both domestic and global audiences.
China isn’t aiming to be “a player” in humanoid robotics. It’s aiming to lead the world. Its approach is clear: build fast, iterate faster, and scale massively.
Related: The Wall Street Journal
Humanoids Are Still Learning — But Robot Dogs Are Already Working
While humanoid robots are still finding their feet, quadruped robots — often nicknamed “robot dogs” — are already deployed. Boston Dynamics’ Spot is inspecting oil rigs, assisting in mines, and patrolling warehouses. China’s Unitree has launched several affordable models now being exported globally. Xiaomi’s CyberDog 2 is even being marketed as a domestic assistant.
Related:
- Boston Dynamics
- Unitree Robotics
- Xiaomi CyberDog
These bots don’t try to mimic humans. They focus on stability, utility, and rugged deployment. If humanoid robots are “tomorrow’s colleagues,” robot dogs are “today’s tools.”
From Labs to Loading Bays: Robotics Has Left the Prototype Phase
This marathon moment joins a series of real-world deployments that show how quickly humanoid robotics is evolving. Some examples:
- Tesla Optimus Gen 2 — Elon Musk’s humanoid bot has improved mobility and dexterity, shown folding laundry and walking smoothly. (Tesla AI Day - which I talked about on BBC Breakfast)
- Figure AI — Backed by OpenAI, Microsoft, and Nvidia, Figure 01 was filmed stocking shelves and sorting goods in a working warehouse. (Forbes)
- Sanctuary AI — Their robot “Phoenix” was developed with reinforcement learning and is already performing retail and manufacturing tasks. (Sanctuary AI)
- Agility Robotics’ Digit — Digit now works in Amazon warehouses, lifting totes and navigating between human workers. (TechCrunch)
- UBTECH’s Walker X — Demonstrated in China performing Tai Chi and assisting in homes. It’s built for interaction, not just motion. (UBTECH)
- Boston Dynamics’ Atlas Evolution — The original Atlas robot was retired, with the new fully electric version promising better energy use and modular design. (IEEE Spectrum)
The Elon Effect vs. The Shenzhen Strategy
It’s easy to focus on Elon Musk’s announcements — especially with Tesla Optimus evolving fast. But here’s the bigger picture: while Tesla builds one elite robot, China is building dozens of factories making hundreds of mid-range models.
This is the real shift. It’s not just about building impressive tech. It’s about building practical, affordable robots that can scale — in logistics, care, education, and yes, even sport.
Related: Bloomberg
These Bots Still Need Supervision — But Not For Long
Right now, these humanoid robots need handlers — someone nearby in case they fall, freeze, or wander off. That might sound limiting. But it’s exactly what we saw in the early days of self-driving cars. Safety drivers were a standard requirement.
Now, we’re seeing robo-taxis operating with no one behind the wheel in cities like San Francisco and Beijing. That same shift will happen with robots. Supervised today. Autonomous tomorrow.
Related: The Verge
This Isn’t Just Sport — It’s a Mirror of What’s Coming
Watching robots run a race isn’t about novelty. It’s a sign of what’s about to hit industries around the world. We’re entering a new era where:
- Robots do the physical labour.
- AI handles the planning.
- Humans manage the exception cases.
That means massive changes to how work is done, who does it, and what roles humans keep. It affects logistics, healthcare, education, and more. And it raises tough social, ethical, and economic questions — from labour displacement to policy to bias in machine decision-making.
Related: World Economic Forum
Final Thought: This Is a Race — And China Is Leading It
The marathon metaphor is perfect. We’re all in a race — not against robots, but alongside them. And right now, China is setting the pace, sprinting ahead in manufacturing, deployment, and ambition.
The West isn’t out — but it’s not leading either. As humanoid robots start appearing in warehouses, hospitals, retail stores and sports arenas, the real question won’t be can we build them? but can we adapt fast enough to work with them?
For more analysis on AI, the future of work, and digital transformation — follow me at www.dansodergren.com or check out resources at futureofwork.gumroad.com.
About The Author
Keynote speaker, corporate trainer, TedxTalker, and author. Ex marketing agency owner and serial tech startup co-founder, Dan Sodergren is a digital marketing and technology expert who specialises in the future of work and AI.
He works on the BBC Breakfast, BBC new channels, BBC Watchdog, the One Show, RipOffBritain and on countless radio shows.
He is a tech futurist and optimist. Who trains companies in how the future of work, technology and AI will change the world for the better during this #FifthIndustrialRevolution.
References for the piece:
- CNN – China’s Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/19/asia/china-first-humanoid-robot-half-marathon-intl-hnk - Business Insider – Photos: Humanoid Robots in Beijing Half-Marathon
https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-humanoid-robots-half-marathon-beijing-china-2025-4 - Wall Street Journal – China’s Humanoid Robot Showcase
https://www.wsj.com/tech/man-versus-machine-as-china-shows-off-humanoid-robots-in-half-marathon-75d7e766 - Forbes – Figure AI Raises $675M for Humanoid Robots
https://www.forbes.com/sites/qai/2024/03/29/figure-ai-raises-675m/ - Sanctuary AI – Official Website
https://www.sanctuary.ai/ - Agility Robotics – Digit Working at Amazon
https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/02/agility-digit-amazon/ - UBTECH Robotics – Walker X Product Page
https://www.ubtrobot.com/products/walker - Boston Dynamics – Official Website (Atlas and Spot)
https://www.bostondynamics.com/ - Tesla AI Day – Tesla Optimus Updates
https://www.tesla.com/AI - IEEE Spectrum – Atlas Retired, New Electric Version Announced
https://spectrum.ieee.org/atlas-electric - World Economic Forum – AI and Future of Jobs Report
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/01/future-of-jobs-ai-robots/ - The Verge – Autonomous Cars and Safety Drivers
https://www.theverge.com/2024/03/06/self-driving-cars-waymo-cruise - Unitree Robotics – Quadruped Robot Lineup
https://www.unitree.com/ - Xiaomi CyberDog – Product Launch Page
https://www.mi.com/global/cyberdog - Bloomberg – Tesla Bot vs China’s Robotics Push
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-01/tesla-bot-vs-chinese-competitors - Running Magazine
https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/robots-to-race-humans-at-china-half-marathon/
Have your say - comment below - my whole interview is here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjkBuxHnekI