Robots are no longer just machines that execute orders and perform programmed tasks, after two incidents, one in China and the other in Russia, raised new questions about the safety of humanoid robots and their ability to behave unpredictably.
Hot Topics
66-million-year-old evidence reveals when the catastrophe that wiped out the dinosaurs occurred
In an incident in China, a robot appeared to attack an engineer during a test inside a laboratory, and in another incident in a Russian store, a robot appeared to respond violently to a customer who pushed it. Are we facing mere technical malfunctions, or does the development of robots and artificial intelligence pose new security challenges?
A robot attacks its developer in China
The incident occurred inside a robotics research laboratory in China's Zhejiang province. CCTV footage shows an engineer sitting in front of a humanoid robot, holding a remote control and conducting tests on the machine.
Suddenly, the robot seemed to go into a state of turmoil, and began to move violently and deliver powerful kicks to the engineer. In the midst of the attack, the control device flew out of the engineer's hand, who was able to move quickly and get away from the robot to avoid the blows.
Upon hearing the noise, one of his colleagues rushed to the scene, and the incident ended without injuries.
The robot is produced by a Chinese company specializing in the manufacture of bipedal robots, and some of its models include advanced mobility capabilities that include performing kicks and combat movements.
Although the incident did not result in any injuries, it raised renewed questions about how to ensure the robot remains under control during testing and operation.
A Russian robot engages in a "fight" with a customer.
Days before this incident, a video circulated from an electronics store in the Russian city of Saratov, showing a humanoid robot getting into a confrontation with a customer.
According to the video, the man approached the robot and extended his hand to shake it, but the machine did not respond to him. After that, the customer pushed the robot in a way that seemed joking, and the surprise came seconds later, when the robot began directing a series of punches and kicks at the man.
Two store employees tried to intervene and control the robot, but it continued moving towards the customer as if it wanted to continue the confrontation.
However, the circumstances of the incident remained unclear, as it was not confirmed whether the robot had actually acted out of control, or whether the scene was part of a show or advertisement for the store.
However, the video went viral on social media, reigniting concerns about the dangers of robots capable of performing human-like physical movements.
These incidents are not enough to say that robots have begun to "rebel," but they reveal that the development of their motor skills and artificial intelligence makes the issue of safety and control over them more urgent. While these incidents remain limited, they raise a bigger question: Are robot safety rules evolving at the same speed as their capabilities?
Tags:
technology
