Russia's first human-like artificial intelligence robot suffered a humiliating tumble just seconds into its highly anticipated public debut, crashing face-first onto the stage in front of a stunned Moscow audience.
The Rocky Entrance That Went Wrong
The humanoid robot, named AIdol, made its grand entrance at a technology event in Moscow on Tuesday to the iconic theme from Rocky, waving slowly to the crowd with its right hand. However, the triumphant moment was short-lived as the robot managed only a few steps before suddenly toppling forward and crashing onto the floor.
Video footage from the event shows the robot twitching briefly after its fall while two staff members rushed to its aid. The attendants struggled to lift the heavy machine before eventually resorting to dragging it off stage. Meanwhile, two other staff members attempted to cover the embarrassing scene with a black cloth but became tangled in the process, leaving the fallen robot visible to the entire audience.
Aftermath and Official Response
Following the incident, fragments of the robot could be seen scattered across the stage after it was removed. The audience broke a brief silence with applause, showing support despite the technical failure.
Event organisers later blamed the calibration and lighting issues for the robot's embarrassing tumble, according to journalists who attended the event. Vladimir Vitukhin, CEO of Russian robotics firm Idol, acknowledged that the robot was still in its testing phase and expressed hope that "this mistake will turn into an experience."
Social Media Reaction
The incident quickly gained attention on social media, with a post by @Gerashchenko_en showing contrasting perspectives on the fall. The post included celebratory emojis and highlighted how parts of the robot broke apart when it hit the stage, suggesting mixed reactions to the technological failure.
The viral moment serves as a reminder of the challenges facing robotics development, even as companies worldwide race to create advanced humanoid machines capable of complex human-like movements and interactions.
