New Delhi: A video featuring a humanoid robot malfunctioning at a Chinese restaurant in San Jose, California has gone viral on social media. The robot, designed to assist staff and entertain customers, suddenly began moving uncontrollably, knocking over utensils and sauce containers.
The situation was brought under control only after three staff members of the Chinese hot pot chain Haidilao got hold of the robot while attempting to deactivate it using a remote control.
In the video, diners and other restaurant staff can be seen enjoying the amusing spectacle with some even recording the incident. The robot, wearing a yellow apron that read “I am good”, suddenly broke into unrestrained dance before a staff member holds the robot back by the neck while operating a phone to switch it off.
Instagram user, Grant Mcdonald, commented, “Imagine it with a weapon.” Another user warned, “This is how it begins.”
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What are Humanoids?
Humanoids are robots which resemble humans with eyes, hands, and limbs. And possess functional artificial intelligence. Humanoids have emerged as a new paradigm shift in the field of robotics.
The recent incident has put the reliability of service robots in busy public spaces under scrutiny.
In a setting such as the hot pot restaurant, a malfunction like this raises serious safety concerns — had the robot knocked over a piping-hot bowl of broth, it could have caused severe burns.
Haidilao, founded in 1994, has been using AI agents since 2024. With restaurants in 1,300 locations worldwide. Primarily based in China, the restaurant has a significant international presence across Asia, North America, and Oceania. Its major international markets include Singapore, Malaysia, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom.
It is not only in California, the Chinese restaurant has used artificial intelligence and robotics in its other restaurants as well. In Beijing, robots assist in serving, alongside automatic broth-mixing machines.
The company in a statement to NBC News said that the robot “was not malfunctioning or out of control.”
“In this case, the robot was brought closer to a dining table at a guest’s request, which is not its typical operating setting.The limited space affected its movement during the performance,” reported NBC News.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)