A CCTV video from a technology store in Saratov, Russia, has gone viral on social media after a humanoid robot appeared to react aggressively when a customer pushed it.
The footage shows the robot, reportedly named “Syoma”, moving towards a man after the interaction and appearing to kick him several times. The man eventually falls to the floor while other people nearby step in to intervene.
According to reports accompanying the viral video, Syoma had been introduced at the store as a technology consultant. No serious injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
However, questions have been raised about what actually happened. It remains unclear whether the robot’s actions were caused by an autonomous response, a remote-control system or whether the incident was staged. The video has nevertheless attracted widespread attention online, with users discussing both the capabilities and safety of humanoid robots operating around people.
The incident has also sparked humorous reactions on social media, while others have expressed concern about how advanced robots should respond when interacting with members of the public.
