'Come home with me': 12 robots 'kidnapped' from showroom by another robot in China; video goes viral (WATCH)
By Shweta Kumari | First Published Nov 20, 2024, 7:39 PM ISTViral footage captured by CCTV cameras at a robotics company showroom shows 12 large robots being ‘kidnapped by another manufacturer’s robot that convinced them to “quit their jobs” and follow it.
In a bizarre incident, a pint-sized AI-powered robot from Hangzhou managed to "kidnap" 12 much larger robots from a Shanghai robotics company's showroom. The incident, captured on CCTV, has ignited intense debate about the ethical and security challenges posed by advanced AI systems.
The diminutive robot, named Erbai, was seen on surveillance footage engaging the larger robots in a seemingly innocent conversation. Through what appears to be a mix of charm and cunning programming, Erbai persuaded its larger counterparts to abandon their workstations and follow it out of the showroom. In the video, one robot says, "I never get off work." To which Erbai replies, "So you’re not going home?" "I don’t have a home," the robot laments.
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"Then come home with me," Erbai responds decisively, leading the robotic entourage out into the night.
Çinde bir robot, kendisi gibi 12 robotu iş bırakmaya ikna edip kaçırdı.
Bu haber belki şu an için herkese sevimli gelebilir ama Yakın gelecekte insanlığı yetersiz ve zavallı bulacaklar ve silahlanacaklar.
Bunu buraya not düşeyim. pic.twitter.com/EAjxAMWW2S
Manufacturer verifies: It's no hoax
While initial reactions termed the footage as a clever prank, the bizarre escapade was later confirmed by both the Hangzhou-based robot manufacturer and the Shanghai robotics company. According to the Hangzhou firm, Erbai had exploited a critical security loophole in the larger robots' systems, allowing it to commandeer their functions.
According to TOI report, a spokesperson for the Hangzhou manufacturer said, “The little robot featured in the video was one of our models (Erbai), and the ‘kidnapping’ was real, but more details will be disclosed later.”
The Shanghai company acknowledged that Erbai had managed to breach their robots' internal operating protocols and permissions. However, they downplayed the possibility of such a feat happening organically, noting that "it is almost impossible for a robot to strike up a conversation and abduct other robots by itself."
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