'Fighter' humanoid robot thrashes violently, sparking safety fears - VnExpress International
2025-07-23
VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam
The information displayed in the AIM should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its member countries.
A Unitree H1 humanoid robot malfunctioned during a lab test, thrashing uncontrollably while suspended from a crane. The incident caused significant equipment damage, including the crane's collapse, and narrowly missed injuring nearby technicians, raising concerns about the safety and reliability of advanced AI-driven robotics.[AI generated]
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The Unitree H1 humanoid robot is an AI system designed for autonomous or semi-autonomous dynamic movement. The violent thrashing and crash during testing, which nearly caused injury to technicians, constitutes a malfunction during use that directly endangered human safety. This fits the definition of an AI Incident as the AI system's malfunction directly led to a safety hazard with plausible harm to people. The incident is not merely a potential hazard but an actual event with realized risk, thus qualifying as an AI Incident rather than an AI Hazard or Complementary Information. The lack of reported injury does not negate the direct risk and near-miss nature of the event.[AI generated]