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Humanoid robot beats human half-marathon world record in Beijing

▶ Watch Video: Video shows humanoid robot setting record in half-marathon in Beijing

A humanoid robot aptly named Lightning made history on the streets of Beijing over the weekend, beating the human half-marathon world record by several minutes.

Dozens of robots lined up for the Beijing E-Town Robot Half Marathon on Sunday, tackling the 13-mile (21-kilometer) race separate from human runners.

Developed by Chinese smartphone company Honor, Lightning completed the half-marathon in just over 50 minutes, besting the human world record for the distance of over 57 minutes.

A Lightning humanoid robot by Honor crosses the finish line of the second Beijing E-Town Half Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half Marathon in Beijing, China, April 19, 2026.
A Lightning humanoid robot by Honor crosses the finish line of the second Beijing E-Town Half Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half Marathon in Beijing, China, April 19, 2026.

Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Lightning’s creators were delighted with the result. Du Xiaodi, a development engineer at Honor, was quick to draw comparisons with other industries.

“Looking ahead, some of these technologies might be transferred to other areas,” said Du. “It’s similar to how the automotive industry initially developed through competitions.”

The event tested robots in real-world conditions, from balance and endurance to navigation. Some ran autonomously, while others were controlled remotely, all competing on a parallel course to avoid collisions with human athletes.

It wasn’t flawless. A few robots stumbled or veered off course, and one was carried away on a stretcher after breaking to pieces in a fall.

Humanoid Robot Half Marathon in Beijing
Staff carry a humanoid robot that crashed after the finish line of the second Beijing E-Town Half Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half Marathon in Beijing, China, April 19, 2026.

Maxim Shemetov / REUTERS

But the progress was striking compared to last year, when most struggled to even finish the race.

Some spectators weren’t worried by the failures.

“I’m very excited,” said Sun Zhigang. “First of all, it’s the first time robots have surpassed humans, and that’s something I never imagined.”

“Their performance is quite impressive,” Jiang Liangzhi said. “I didn’t expect the speeds to be this fast already, and they’re all very stable.”

Runners participating in the second Beijing E-Town Half Marathon take pictures of the Tiangong Ultra 2026 humanoid robot participating in the Humanoid Robot Half Marathon in Beijing, China, April 19, 2026.
People take pictures of the Tiangong Ultra 2026 humanoid robot participating in the Humanoid Robot Half Marathon in Beijing, China, April 19, 2026.

Reuters/Tingshu Wang

Organizers said the marathon isn’t really about speed. It’s about pushing robotics technology beyond the lab with potential applications in manufacturing, logistics and even emergency response.

Chinese companies are pushing ahead with the development of robot technologies for both civilian and military uses, but Beijing’s robot half-marathon shows just how fast the future is moving from science fiction to sporting reality.

Second Beijing E-Town Half Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half Marathon in Beijing
Team members celebrate next to winning robot Lightning during a medial ceremony after the second Beijing E-Town Half Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half Marathon in Beijing, China, April 19, 2026.

Maxim Shemetov / REUTERS

Luigi Mangione hearing set to start amid discussions about possible guilty plea

▶ Watch Video: CBS News New York Luigi Mangione, accused in the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is in discussions about a possible plea deal on federal charges ahead of a court appearance Friday in New York City, sources familiar with the matter told CBS News.Mangione, 28, is set to appear at an 11 a.m. conference in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. That meeting is taking place after prosecutors and the defense team sent a letter to federal court Tuesday requesting Friday's conference. Plea discussions between federal prosecutors and defense attorneys have been ongoing and it's unclear if an agreement has been reached, sources told CBS News.CBS News New York's Alice Gainer is inside the courtroom Friday with the latest developments.   Mangione's defense attorneys entered the court at around 10:38 a.m. The gallery was not full when they arrived, with about four rows of press and two rows of members of the public. Thompson's family entered the courtroom at around 10:51 a.m. Thompson, a husband and father of two, was fatally shot while walking down the street in New York City. The killing was caught on surveillance video. Just before 11 a.m., the courtroom was mostly full. Mangione's defense and prosecutors could be seen speaking to one another. Attorneys for Mangione have not responded to CBS News New York's request for comment. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York also declined to comment. "I expect plea negotiations to happen in every case, or certainly most cases," legal expert Richard Schoenstein said. Mangione faces both federal and state charges in connection with Thompson's death. He has pleaded not guilty in both trials.The federal charges carry a potential maximum life sentence, which Mangione could still face even if a federal plea deal is reached. "In the federal system, you don't agree to a sentence as part of a plea deal. You agree to a plea and the crime, and then it has to go to a sentencing hearing in front of the judge," Schoenstein said."Maybe both parties try to, either by a binding agreement or by a suggestion to the court, say, 'We want some sort of reduced sentence, less than the life in federal prison that was the possibility here,'" CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson said.If a plea deal is reached, it could have an impact on his state trial, which is set to begin next month. That's because of potential double jeopardy concerns. Double jeopardy refers to a law which says "a person may not be twice prosecuted for the same offense," although a number of exceptions are listed. "I would expect the defense to make some sort of motion to preclude further prosecution of the state case on the grounds that it is double jeopardy," Schoenstein said. "I think the question of whether or not it would be double jeopardy is open and complicated and subject to debate."That's because the federal charges have to do with stalking resulting in death and stalking through use of interstate facilities, whereas the state charges are for second-degree murder, a weapons charge, and a forged instrument charge."So the weapons and forged instrument charges would not be resolved by the federal plea, and arguably the intentional killing charge would not be resolved. I do think there's a serious question as to whether this would be double jeopardy," Schoenstein said. "In New York state, there's more robust protections for defendants around the double jeopardy laws. And so that could be a real issue here, at least one that would merit litigation, if not dismissal," CBS News legal analyst Caroline Polisi said.Schoenstein said a federal plea deal would "put some pressure on state prosecutors to reach a deal of their own, or to become part of the deal that is being negotiated between the feds and the defendant, and therefore it could resolve the case on a negotiated level."Schoenstein said it could also impact the defense strategy if the state case does go forward, "because if it does go forward he no longer has to worry about a federal trial down the road."Legal experts say the case's national attention and the supporters Mangione has gained could be a factor in the feds wanting to make a deal."You have a raised possibility of what we call juror nullification, wherein a jury gets seated and there's someone in there that just, regardless of hearing any of the evidence, is never going to vote to convict Luigi Mangione," Polisi said.It was unclear what charges Mangione would plead guilty to on Friday, and he could reverse his decision at the last minute.The start of his federal trial, if it moves forward, is set for January.
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