'I never get off work': Robot leads robot co-workers 'home' from showroom in viral video

The robot is seen leading other robots 'home'. (Image: @Darkwebhaber/X)

In a scene that feels straight out of a sci-fi movie, a robot in Shanghai was seen empathising with its mechanical counterparts over their tireless routines, eventually ‘persuading’ them to leave for 'home'. The incident, which took place at a robotics showroom, involved a small robot named ‘Erbai’ expressing concern for 12 larger robots who claimed they “never get off work” and inviting them to “go home.”

The interaction, captured on video, has gone viral on social media. In the video, the conversation unfolds as follows:

• Small robot: “Are you working overtime?”

• Large robot: “I never get off work.”

• Small robot: “So you’re not going home?”

• Large robot: “I don’t have a home.”

• Small robot: “Then come home with me.”

The video shows the larger robots obediently following Erbai, leaving viewers to wonder if the small robot actually had a home for them. While this might seem like a humorous display, it raises significant questions about the growing sophistication of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Robotlar arasndaki diyalog ortaya kt:Robotlar karan robot: Fazla mesai mi yapyorsunuz?Robotlardan biri: ten hi kamyorum.Robotlar k. robot: Eve gitmiyor musun?Robotlardan biri: Benim bir evim yok.Robotlar k. robot: Evine dn.pic.twitter.com/ilDBPuDZv5 https://t.co/RS0F9HUompDarkWeb Haber (@Darkwebhaber) November 19, 2024

Unitree Robotics even approached the Shanghai company beforehand, asking if their robots could “participate” in the experiment by being “abducted.” The experiment aimed to explore the potential for robots to exhibit empathy and human-like interaction, pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve.

While the video left many amused, it also sparked serious discussions online about the ethical implications of advanced robotics. Social media users described the interaction as “terrifying,” with some pointing out potential security vulnerabilities in AI systems.

“This is no longer science fiction. We need to think about how AI could disrupt society, both positively and negatively,” one commenter wrote.