It Snuck Up Behind an Elderly Woman... When She Asked "Why Are You Doing This," the Robot Raised Both Arms

No Physical Contact, But Woman Felt Threatened
Viral Social Media Video Raises Need for Robot Regulation

In downtown Macau, China, a humanoid robot created a threatening situation for a citizen, prompting the police to respond. This incident has brought renewed attention to safety concerns and the need for regulations regarding the operation of robots in public spaces.

On March 14 (local time), the New York Post, citing local media, reported that on March 5, a woman in her 70s encountered a humanoid robot on a street in Macau. She expressed significant distress and was transported to a hospital.

A humanoid robot remotely controlled on a street in Macau, China, threatened a woman in her 70s and was taken away by the police. X

A video circulating on social media shows a robot about 132 centimeters tall approaching the woman from behind. When the woman noticed the robot, she protested, saying, "My heart is pounding," "I have so much to do—why are you doing this?" and "Are you crazy?" In response, the robot raised both of its arms. It was reported that the woman, having briefly stopped to use her smartphone, was startled when she saw the robot approaching from behind. Two police officers at the scene managed the situation and removed the robot from the area, a scene that was also captured on video and quickly spread online.

Fortunately, it was confirmed that there was no physical contact between the woman and the robot. After undergoing examinations at the hospital, the woman was found to have no major issues and was discharged, and she reportedly decided not to file any complaints against those involved. The robot was identified as equipment owned by a large academy in Macau for promotional activities. The man in his 50s who was remotely controlling the robot at the time explained to police that the robot was leaving the scene. He added that the woman had stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, and the robot could not quickly move past her, so it simply waited behind her.

A humanoid robot being remotely controlled on a street in Macau, China, threatened a woman in her 70s and was taken away by the police. X (X)

Viewers of the video reacted with comments such as, "Some people need time to understand robots," and "The robot might need a lawyer." At the time, the police warned that operators must exercise special caution to avoid startling or endangering pedestrians when using robots in public spaces. Although the exact model of the robot was not disclosed, local media reported that it resembled the Humanoid G1 model developed by Chinese robotics company Unitree Robotics. This model is known to be sold at a minimum price of 13,500 dollars (approximately 20 million won).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.