Viral rogue robot sparks new AI safety fears

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As chaos unfolds, one stunned observer shouts, "Oh my god, what the (expletive) was that?" Another technician replies, "What the (expletive) did you guys run?" The dramatic exchange, captured on video, has only deepened speculation.

Cix Liv, the robot handler who shared the footage on X, offered a possible explanation, saying, "The technical reason is we ran a full-body policy while the feet weren't touching the ground. Don't do that." 

In other words, the robot was executing full-body movements without contact with the floor, triggering a dangerous cascade of erratic behavior.

We reached out to Unitree for comment but did not hear back before our deadline.

And, earlier this year, a separate Unitree humanoid startled crowds at a festival in China when it suddenly lurched toward a safety barrier. Although security acted fast, the robot's aggressive motion left many in the crowd visibly shaken.

The Unitree H1 is commercially available. It stands nearly 6 feet tall, weighs 104 pounds and can perform backflips, run and lift heavy objects. Each joint delivers a whopping 365 pound-feet of torque.

That's enough to cause serious harm if anything goes wrong. Even small glitches in balance or software can appear threatening due to the robot's human-like size and shape. Experts warn that these movements, though technically correct from the robot's perspective, can seem violent or unpredictable to nearby humans.

The rogue robot video was real, unfiltered and unsettling. It's a reminder that while robots are becoming more capable, they're still not perfect and are sometimes unpredictable. As AI and robotics evolve, the line between useful and dangerous is becoming increasingly blurred. Regulation, transparency and safety testing can't be afterthoughts.

Are we moving too fast with humanoid robotics, or is this just part of progress? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

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