A dancing robot at a California restaurant went out of control, breaking dishes, raising questions about safety.

New Delhi. When we think about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, we often think of scenes from Hollywood or Bollywood movies. But sometimes, dangers lie around us, in everyday places. This is what happened at a restaurant in California, where a dancing robot, hired for entertainment, went out of control.

Dancing robot created a stir

AgiBot X2, a robot entertaining customers at the “Haidilao” hot pot restaurant in Cupertino, suddenly became very excited. In a video that went viral on social media, the robot approached the table and began dancing, breaking plates, utensils, and chopsticks.

employees’ struggle

The video shows at least three employees trying to stop the robot. The robot was flailing its arms and legs in the air. One employee was trying to turn the robot off using her phone, possibly using an app or a “kill switch.”

Major accident averted

A hot pot dish holds boiling soup on the table. If the robot were to spill the soup, it could cause serious burns. Furthermore, contact with the iron could also cause serious injuries.

The company clarified

Haidilao said in a statement that the robot was not malfunctioning. “A customer invited the robot to his table. Due to limited space, the robot’s hands collided with utensils while dancing,” the company said. AgiBot, the robot’s manufacturer, declined to comment on the incident.

Robots without limbs are a safe option

The use of robots in the food industry is rapidly increasing. Many startups are working on creating fully automated kitchens. Pudu Robotics’ BellaBot is quite popular. This cat-like robot escorts customers to their seats and serves food. Robots without limbs are much less likely to break utensils or cause injury.