A humanoid robot was escorted by police in Macau, China, after frightening a 70-year-old woman who later required hospitalization, sparking debate over public use of autonomous machines.
A humanoid robot was escorted by police in Macau’s Patane district after frightening a 70-year-old woman who later required hospitalization, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred around 9 PM when the woman, walking while looking at her phone, encountered a Unitree G1 robot that had stopped behind her, unable to pass.
“You’re making my heart race!” the woman yelled at the robot, according to the Macau Post. “You’ve got plenty to do, so what’s the point of messing around with this? Are you freaking crazy?” Police confirmed there was physical contact, though no complaint was filed after the woman received medical treatment for distress.
The robot belonged to an education center conducting “promotional activities,” representative Towin Mak explained. It halted behind the woman when she stopped to check her phone. The device was returned to its 50-year-old owner with a warning.