Footage from the Spring Festival Gala in Tianjin, China, captured a humanoid robot suddenly charging at festival-goers, prompting quick intervention from security personnel to avert harm. Event organizers attributed the incident to a “robotic failure,” asserting that the robot, made by Unitree Robotics, had passed safety tests. A software glitch is suspected as the cause of the robot’s erratic behavior. This incident mirrors previous occurrences of rogue AI, emphasizing concerns about the potential risks of malfunctioning machines. The event has prompted public reactions questioning the safety and implications of AI developments in daily life.
Disturbing footage has emerged showing a humanoid robot going berserk and charging at a group of festival-goers. The video, recorded on February 9 during the Spring Festival Gala in Tianjin, northeast China, captures the robot, dressed in an eye-catching jacket, unexpectedly lunging towards a crowd of bewildered spectators standing behind a barricade. Security personnel quickly stepped in, pulling the erratic robot away to avert any possible danger.
Event organizers played down the situation, describing it as a “robotic failure.” They confirmed that the robot had cleared safety tests prior to the event and assured that steps have been implemented to prevent a recurrence of such an incident, Metro reported.
Watch the video here:
Chinese AI robot goes rogue and attacks a person before being deactivated! ЁЯЗиЁЯЗ│ ЁЯдЦ
A glimpse of our optimistic future.. pic.twitter.com/esZRSWOBJP
тАФ Global Dissident (@GlobalDiss) February 20, 2025
The robot in question is termed a “humanoid agent AI avatar” developed by Unitree Robotics. Reports suggest that a software glitch may have caused the erratic behavior of the robot.
This event is not unique, as there have been earlier reports of rogue AI incidents, including a situation where a robot attacked an engineer at Tesla’s Texas factory. The machine pinned the engineer down, inflicting injuries with its claws on their back and arm, resulting in a trail of blood, according to an official incident assessment.
In many of these instances, software malfunctions have been pinpointed as the root issue, underscoring the necessity for thorough testing and quality assurance in AI development.
Growing apprehensions have been voiced about the potential dangers and implications of machines on human existence. In reaction to the video, one user remarked, “So it begins… An AI-controlled robot attacked a human.”
Another commented, “Just a little preview of our bright future.” A third user said, “Can we please resolve ALL the glitches before being unleashed on the public?” A fourth added, “Should we be concerned that AIs and robots can become perilous toward humans due to glitches.”