Humanoid robot malfunctions, sparks viral panic
A chilling video circulating on social media has reignited old anxieties about robots turning against their creators. The footage shows a Unitree H1 humanoid robot, a machine about the size of an adult human, suddenly flailing its arms and legs with alarming force during a test, coming dangerously close to two technicians.
The scene has sparked heated debate about the safety of advanced robotics and artificial intelligence. But is this truly the beginning of something out of our worst fears, or is there just a straightforward technical explanation for what happened?
In the viral clip first posted on Reddit, the Unitree H1 is seen suspended from a crane at a Chinese factory, surrounded by two handlers. Without warning, the robot loses control, thrashing its limbs, knocking over equipment and forcing the technicians to scramble out of harm's way. The chaos is palpable, and the images quickly drew comparisons to movies like "The Terminator" and "I, Robot," with many viewers wondering if the age of rogue machines had finally arrived.
The Unitree H1 is not a prototype but a commercially available, general-purpose humanoid robot. Standing 5.9 feet tall and weighing 104 pounds, it's designed to walk, run and even perform dynamic movements like backflips and dancing. Its joints are powerful and capable of generating 365 pound-feet of torque, enough to lift heavy objects or, in the wrong circumstances, cause serious harm.
Despite the frightening visuals, the reality is far less sinister. According to engineers and robotics experts, the root cause of the malfunction was a combination of software and design oversight. During the test, the H1 was tethered by its head for safety, a common practice during public demonstrations. However, this physical restraint was not accounted for in the robot's balance algorithm.
The robot's sensors interpreted the resistance from the tether as if it were constantly falling. In response, the H1's stabilization software tried to correct its position, but the tether prevented normal movement. This created a feedback loop: the robot made increasingly aggressive corrections, resulting in the violent flailing seen in the video. Investigators concluded that this was not a case of emergent AI behavior but rather a known failure mode triggered by an unanticipated physical constraint and software flaw.
Although no one was seriously injured, the incident set off a wave of panic online. Many viewers saw the video without any technical context, fueling fears of a robot uprising. The imagery alone was enough to make people question whether advanced robots are safe to have around humans.
Experts, however, were quick to clarify that the malfunction was not evidence of a conscious or rebellious machine. Instead, it highlighted the importance of thorough safety protocols and testing, especially when deploying powerful machines in environments shared with people.
This event highlights some important lessons for both the robotics industry and the public. First, safety protocols are essential. Even with the most advanced hardware, unexpected interactions between software and the physical world can create dangerous situations.
Second, transparency from manufacturers plays a crucial role. When companies provide quick and clear explanations, they can help prevent panic and stop misinformation from spreading.
Finally, it is important to remember that artificial intelligence is not sentient, at least not yet. The Unitree H1's behavior was caused by programming and sensor misinterpretation, not by any independent thought or intent.
The viral Unitree H1 video is a reminder that technology, especially when it's powerful and autonomous, demands respect and caution. While the footage is unsettling, the true story is one of technical error, not a robot rebellion. As robots become more common in our workplaces and public spaces, incidents like this will serve as important lessons for engineers, regulators and the public alike. For now, the machines are not plotting against us, but they do need careful supervision and thoughtful design to keep everyone safe.
If you saw a robot lose control right in front of you, would you trust having machines like this in your daily life? Why or why not? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
Follow Kurt on his social channels:
Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:
New from Kurt:
Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Meta hires four more OpenAI researchers, The Information reports
(Reuters) -Meta Platforms is hiring four more OpenAI artificial intelligence researchers, The Information reported on Saturday. The researchers, Shengjia Zhao, Jiahui Yu, Shuchao Bi and Hongyu Ren have each agreed to join, the report said, citing a person familiar with their hiring. Earlier this week, the Instagram parent hired Lucas Beyer, Alexander Kolesnikov and Xiaohua Zhai, who were all working in OpenAI's Zurich office, the Wall Street Journal reported. Meta and ChatGPT maker OpenAI did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The company has recently been pushing to hire more researchers from OpenAI to join chief executive Mark Zuckerberg's superintelligence efforts. Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Japan launches flagship H2A rocket for 50th and last time
Japan launched the country's flagship H2A rocket for the 50th and last time from the Tanegashima Space Centre Saturday. The rocket is carrying a satellite to monitor greenhouse gas emissions.
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Aussie four-day work week could be 'accelerated' amid growing trend: '200 hours a year'
Australians in many industries could soon be working one day less each week thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). Large language models (LLMs) and other AI platforms are used every day by millions of workers across the country, and they can lead to a huge boost in productivity. However, questions are being raised about whether it could 'accelerate' the four-day work week trend that's been gathering pace over the last few years. Matt Tindale, managing director at LinkedIn Australia and New Zealand, told Yahoo Finance AI was changing so many ways that we work. 'It's reshaping how we think about work itself," he said. Major city announces four-day work week shift Centrelink $836 cash boost for 'very real' truth facing thousands of Aussies ATO issues July 1 warning to Aussies waiting on $1,500 tax refunds "We're likely to see continued growth in entrepreneurship, emerging small businesses and flexible careers that reflect a more fluid, empowered workforce. 'The widespread accessibility of knowledge through AI is transforming how talent drives economic growth." LinkedIn found four in five Aussies supported a four-day work week, and Tindale said AI was helping workers and employers look at their output as 'outcomes delivered' rather than a certain number of hours Reuters' Future of Professionals Report found AI tools could save some professionals up to 200 hours a year. Fundraising platform Raisely jumped on the trend in 2022, and chief customer officer Jordan Maitland told Yahoo Finance it's been made much easier by adopting the latest technology. 'Life is busy, and with AI we're able to get so much more done, which is almost at the expense of your people and you're almost getting too much done in five days that people are easily burning out,' she said. 'With all the technology and better ways of working, reward your people for that and let them have that day off and come back more energised. 'Otherwise, if we're working at this pace, five days a week, you're going to have continuous burnout and continuous turnover.' Swinburne University of Technology Associate Professor John Hopkins has been closely studying this new work trend and told Yahoo Finance there was no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to the four-day work week. He explained every business would have to sort out which departments and staff would benefit from it the most and which would be most adaptable to working one day less per week. Hopkins admitted new tech like LLMs could help usher in that change. "AI does save time, so it has the potential to take hours out of a working week and support a shorter working week for employees," he said. "It'll address particularly repetitive tasks and things that would normally take a lot longer, and complete those pretty well and fairly accurately." But he wasn't fully convinced of a purely AI-led charge helping companies realise their four-day work week potential. "It's a huge question," he mused. "We don't fully understand the potential of AI yet. I don't think anybody does. It's still relatively early days. I think some companies are doing some quite exciting work with it, but I think the big impact is still to come." His hesitation lies in how other technological advancements like the internet and computers affected workers' output. These helped produce far more productivity for millions of people across Australia, however, they didn't lead to a shorter working week. 'We're, in fact, working longer hours now than we did 100 years ago when the five-day week was introduced because the technologies that we have in our pockets means that we finish at five o'clock and you're already working before 9am and we're working at weekends and evenings or holidays,' he said. Hopkins added that employers could just as easily keep the current setup and squeeze even more productivity and outcomes from workers. Those who are testing the new trend have seen some incredible results so far. Medibank has noticed it has helped cut down on unnecessary meetings and workloads as staff felt more committed to getting everything done in the new timeframe. Staff reported being 4.5 per cent more satisfied with their job and 6.7 per cent were more engaged with their day-to-day tasks. The shortened week also helped these employees be more willing to go "above and beyond" their normal duties. Overall health improved by 16 per cent, work-life balance and sleep jumped 30 per cent each, and unhealthy eating plunged 17.5 per cent. For Maitland's company, their trial found there was not a single drop in productivity. It actually went the other way, with a 10.1 per cent improvement. Staff also reported their work-life balance improved by nearly 18 per cent, along with increased energy levels. In a LinkedIn survey of 2,000 Aussie professionals, an overwhelming 77 per cent supported moving to a shorter week, and 82 per cent of HR staffers in a separate study said the same. It could be 20 per cent fewer hours per week with the same pay, or even a reduced salary. Others have suggested 10-hour work days, instead of the usual eight, to ensure the same amount of weekly work gets done, just with one day less. Recent research also found nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of AI users in Australia utilise it for work. They're using it to help with writing (75 per cent), brainstorming (69 per cent), problem-solving (70 per cent), and to digest or simplify lengthy documents (68 per cent) or complex information (60 per cent). Hopkins told Yahoo Finance the key to ushering in a four-day work week was really analysing whether you can cut down on certain tasks that eat up your time. Some of the companies he has interviewed said they trialled the trend to address productivity issues, others did it to keep and attract the best talent. Whatever it was, they all had a reason to do it. But Hopkins admitted it's not a simple task to bring it in. 'Moving to a four-day week takes preparation. It takes a pilot. There has to be a transition to it, and training and everything else,' he said. 'There may be a trimming of work, or becoming more lean in terms of things that you do, maybe reducing the number of meetings.' But he also believed that, with enough time, it would become a reality for millions.
