Which humanoid robot shocked the internet by attacking factory workers?

Footage widely circulated on X over the past few days shows the robot suspended by a crane inside a factory. Two men stand nearby, observing the machine during what appears to be a test.

Without warning, the robot begins flailing its arms and legs uncontrollably, knocking over equipment and forcing the men to back away. One of them eventually regains control by adjusting the robot’s support structure.

The robot has been confirmed as the Unitree H1, and the incident reportedly took place at a testing site in China, according to tech publication Interesting Engineering. Preliminary reports suggest a coding error may have triggered the malfunction.

The incident is the latest in a string of high-profile malfunctions involving Unitree’s humanoid robots. In February, a Unitree robot wearing a colorful jacket startled crowds at the Spring Festival Gala in Tianjin when it suddenly charged toward onlookers behind a barricade, according to India’s NDTV.

Concerns about rogue AI behavior have been growing in recent years. In a separate case, a robot at Tesla’s Texas factory was reported to have attacked an engineer. In both cases, software glitches were cited as likely causes, underscoring the challenges of ensuring safety in advanced robotics development.

The Unitree H1 stands 1.8 meters tall, weighs 47 kilograms, and is priced at 650,000 yuan (US$90,064). In 2023, the H1 V3.0 Evolution set a Guinness World Record for the fastest walking speed by a full-sized humanoid robot, reaching 7.38 mph (3.3 m/s) on flat ground.

Unitree’s flagship model, the G1, made headlines in March after becoming the first humanoid robot to perform a kip-up, springing from its back to its feet. In April, the company announced plans to livestream what it described as the world’s first humanoid robot boxing match, with either the G1 or H1 expected to compete.

While these advancements showcase rapid progress in robotics, the recent viral incident has sparked public concern. Many viewers have drawn comparisons to the "Terminator" film franchise, describing the robot’s behavior as "dystopian" and "terrifying."