I expect I was not alone in rejoicing at the news that a pioneering human-robot marathon in Beijing last weekend ended with a victory for the humans. But, as our Schumpeter columnist notes, the event was also a metaphor for China’s ambitions in its technological contest with America. That, too, is a marathon, not a sprint—and China looks quite well-placed.

Also looking in good shape for competition to come is Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party. Once a rank outsider, his party has become, opinion polls suggest, one of four with roughly equal shares of the popular vote. In a first-past-the-post system, that is an unsettling state of affairs. But at least humanoid machines have yet to organise politically.