Security personnel intervened swiftly after a humanoid robot malfunctioned at a Spring Festival Gala in Tianjin, China, on February 9, preventing potential harm to the crowd.
The incident, captured in video footage, shows the robot, identifiable by its colorful jacket, abruptly advancing toward stunned onlookers gathered behind a barrier. Event organizers attributed the erratic behavior to a “robotic failure,” assuring that the robot had undergone and passed safety tests prior to the event. They also stated that measures have been put in place to prevent future occurrences, according to a report by Metro.
The robot, developed by Unitree Robotics, is described as a “humanoid agent AI avatar.” Reports suggest that a software glitch triggered the unusual actions. This incident recalls a previous incident where a robot attacked an engineer at Tesla’s Texas factory. The machine pinned the engineer and inflicted injuries with its claws, causing a trail of blood, based on an official incident report.
These occurrences highlight the critical need for meticulous testing and quality control in AI development. The potential risks and consequences of machines on human lives are of increasing concern. The video prompted varied reactions online. One social media user remarked, “So it begins… An AI-controlled robot attacked a human.” Another commented on the implications of the incident: “Just a little preview of our bright future.” A third user expressed a cautionary sentiment, “Can we please work out ALL the glitches before being released upon the public?” Another asked, “Should we be worried that AIs and robots can turn dangerous against humans due to glitch?”
