SLICES: Bipedal Robots Beat Humans in Half-Marathon

Scott Sigler Slices

Empty Set Entertainment

Fiction, Arts, Science Fiction

4.8 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 20 April 2026

⏱️ 16 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Is anyone else terrified? We are. For the first time ever, autonomous robots beat humans at humanity’s signature ability—long-distance endurance running. Bi-pedal buckets of bolts bested people at the Beijing E-Town Robot Half Marathon. Can the robopocalypse be far behind? Listen in to see why this milestone is far more than the sum of the robotic parts. Slices is created by Scott Sigler and A B Kovacs Produced by Steve Riekeberg Production Assistance by Allie Press Copyright 2026 by Empty Set Entertainment Before the gearheads come for you, use our ⁠GoDaddy Promo Code⁠ CJCFOSSIG to cut 99% off the first year of a three-year new domain registration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	It can't be barking with.
0:01.6	It can't be reasoned with.
0:03.5	It doesn't feel pity or remorse or fear.
0:06.4	And it absolutely will not stop ever until you are defeated.
0:14.1	That's from Terminator, but isn't the last line until you are dead?
0:18.6	Yes, that is the last line.
0:19.9	But for now, it's just defeated.
0:22.2	Imagine you're running.
0:23.6	You're tired.
0:24.7	Your legs are burning.
0:26.1	No, thank you already.
0:27.4	You hear something behind you.
0:29.1	Steady, rhythmic, growing closer with every second.
0:32.9	Absolutely not.
0:34.2	I suck at running.
0:35.2	You don't hear breathing.
0:36.2	You don't hear footsteps getting sloppy. You turn around. It's a robot.
0:41.8	Stop, stop, stop. I can't even beat people running. I don't want to run against robots. No, thank you. No.
0:48.3	Well, that's too bad because bipedal humanoid robots just ran a half marathon and some of them actually beat humans.
0:56.9	Who, welcome to Scott Sigler Slices.
0:59.1	I am Scott Sigler, a sci-fi horror and sports fiction author.
1:02.6	And I am A.B. Sigler, audiobook narrator and publisher at M.T. Set Entertainment, where we make
	...

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