A woman on an evening walk in Macau was briefly hospitalised after a humanoid robot startled her and left her feeling unwell, police told AFP on Wednesday.
Police said they had received a call for assistance for the woman, who “was startled when she suddenly noticed a robot behind her while using her mobile phone”.
Video widely shared online showed a woman angrily confronting a robot as it waved its metallic arms at her, while a crowd of curious onlookers gathered around.
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A humanoid robot named Unitree G1 has quickly mastered tennis, demonstrating fluid and natural movements on the court against human players, thanks to a new LATENT learning system.
Skild AI and Nvidia are deploying advanced robot brains on Blackwell assembly lines, aiming to enhance automation and efficiency in manufacturing processes by integrating sophisticated AI into production. This collaboration focuses on leveraging AI to optimize assembly line operations.
A humanoid robot startled an elderly woman in Macau, sending her to hospital. Police escorted the robot away, prompting online jokes that it was “arrested”.
LG Electronics CEO Lyu Jae-cheol visited Chinese humanoid robot manufacturer AgiBot in Shanghai, signaling the company's increased focus on robotics and AI as key future business pillars.
Humanoid robots are increasingly being adopted in car manufacturing, logistics, and retail sectors, marking a significant step in the application of AI in industrial settings.
An unusual incident occurred in Macau, China, where a humanoid robot was arrested by police after scaring a 70-year-old woman, who was later hospitalized due to the distress.
Hyundai Motor Group plans to unveil key strategies for autonomous driving and humanoid robotics at an upcoming investor event hosted by Kia next month, highlighting the group’s push to commercialize physical AI-based technologies. According to local media reports Friday, senior technology leaders across the group will present commercialization roadmaps at Kia’s Investor Day on April 9. Speakers are expected to include Park Min-woo, president of Hyundai Motor Group’s Advanced Vehicle Platform div
As Korean companies try to reduce exposure to China amid rising geopolitical tensions, Korean retail investors are doing the opposite — increasing their bets on China’s humanoid robotics industry. The contrast highlights a widening gap between corporate strategy and investor sentiment, as many investors see China’s dominance in manufacturing and supply chains as a key advantage in the emerging robotics economy. Humanoid robotics has quickly become one of the most closely watched technology battl
With its cutting-edge humanoid robots busting moves on the world’s most-watched television programme and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz touring a company factory during a state visit, both within…
Figure company has released a video showcasing its humanoid robot performing various household chores with ease and style, demonstrating its capabilities in domestic environments.
Hyundai Motor Group’s decadeslong effort to streamline its complex ownership structure could finally gain momentum. The catalyst is not a new SUV, but the company behind the back-flipping humanoid robot Atlas. Boston Dynamics, the auto-to-steel conglomerate’s US robotics unit, will work toward a long-anticipated initial public offering on the Nasdaq this year, according to sources. With a potential listing as early as 2027, the company is expected to select underwriters and file for a preliminar
American engineers have developed a framework enabling the Chinese Unitree G1 humanoid robot to learn parkour movements from videos, allowing it to jump, climb, and run over obstacles.
Some media users have been sharing videos that they claim are proof that China has started training humanoid robot soldiers. It turns out, however, that these videos were – surprise surprise – created by AI.
At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Honor showcased a humanoid robot that captivated audiences with its flawless moonwalk and backflip, demonstrating advanced robotic capabilities.
Xiaomi's humanoid robots have commenced an 'internship' at an automobile manufacturing plant, marking a step towards integrating advanced robotics into industrial settings.
BMW Group announces its plan to deploy humanoid robots in its production facilities in Germany for the first time, integrating advanced automation into its manufacturing processes.
On a day typically considered one of the happiest on the calendar for Chinese workers – the eve of Chinese New Year, when families gather for dinner in the midst of an extended public holiday – the annual Spring Festival Gala, the world’s most-watched television programme, left some in the viewing audience with a sense of profound disillusionment.
As a troupe of humanoid robots break-danced, flipped, swung swords and performed comedy sketches at the gala, domestic AI brands occupied the show’...
BMW is introducing two humanoid robots, developed by a Swedish company, to assist employees with car production at its Leipzig factory. The robots are 1.65 meters tall and weigh 60 kilograms.
A rapidly growing supply chain supports Chinese dancing robots, which are captivating the world. However, questions remain about who will ultimately purchase these humanoid robots.
US software company OpenMind is promoting the global adoption of Chinese humanoid robots, drawing significant public attention during a promotional video shoot in San Francisco.
China demonstrated its technological prowess in robotics and artificial intelligence during the Spring Festival Gala, highlighting its strategic commitment to these fields amidst global competition. The showcase included humanoid robots, though the market for such specialized applications remains to be seen.
China is preparing to feature its humanoid robots during the Lunar New Year celebrations. This event highlights advancements in robotics technology and their integration into public displays.
Reports indicate that humanoid robots have begun patrolling streets in China, marking a new development in the use of AI and robotics for public safety and surveillance.
A woman in Macau was hospitalized after being severely frightened by a humanoid robot during her walk, despite having no physical contact or injuries with the machine.
Watch: Humanoid Robot Returns Tennis Shots With 96% Accuracy In Simulation Tests
Authored by Atharva Gosavi via Interesting Engineering,
Galbot Robotics has released a video on its…
North Korea has reportedly developed humanoid robots, named Dojeon and S, for public and educational purposes, according to a Japan-based pro-North Korean media outlet.
A humanoid robot, intended for advertising an educational institution in Macau, reportedly got into an argument with a passerby, scaring her, and was subsequently taken away by the police.
A humanoid robot in Macau reportedly followed a 70-year-old woman on the street, causing alarm and prompting police intervention to escort the android away.
Chinese researchers have proposed a semi-humanoid robot mounted on a wheeled platform to serve as key infrastructure for the country’s lunar research station, which is slated to be operational by 2035.
Police in China reportedly 'escorted' a humanoid robot after it frightened a 70-year-old woman, leading to her hospitalization due to the unsettling encounter.
An elderly woman was taken to hospital in Macau after being “frightened” by a humanoid robot that abruptly appeared behind her before it was escorted away by police, prompting social media users to joke it had been “arrested”.
According to authorities, the woman, who was on her phone at the time, was startled when she suddenly noticed the robot behind her near the Lok Yeung Fa Yuen residential complex in Patane last Thursday.
Video circulating online shows the woman angrily confronting the ro...
China's Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence (BIGAI) unveiled OmniXtreme, a new framework for humanoid robot movement, demonstrating advanced capabilities like breakdancing, backflips, and squats.
Researchers from Kyoto University in Japan have unveiled Buddharoid, a humanoid robot designed to function as a priest. This innovation marks another step in Japan's blend of tradition and technological advancement in spiritual experiences.
Samsung SDI said Monday it will showcase next-generation batteries designed for humanoid robots and AI data centers at InterBattery 2026 this week in Seoul. Under the theme “AI Thinks, Battery Enables,” the company will debut a pouch-type all-solid-state battery sample developed for physical AI applications such as humanoid robots. The battery is designed to deliver high energy density, strong power output and enhanced safety in a compact form factor. It addresses the tight installation space ty
Researchers from Amazon Frontier AI & Robotics and the University of California, Berkeley, have introduced a new framework called perceptive humanoid parkour (PHP) to enable humanoid robots to move and behave more like humans.
A humanoid robot from China has successfully completed a solo expedition in temperatures as low as -53 degrees Celsius, marking a significant achievement in robotics.
The PM01 humanoid robot by EngineAI shows off balance in new footage, highlighting stability and resilience as key goals for real-world robotics applications.
Xiaomi's newly developed humanoid robots have commenced an 'internship' at an automotive manufacturing plant, marking a significant step in their practical application in industrial settings.
Hyundai Motor Group and Toyota are emerging as contrasting rivals in the accelerating humanoid robotics boom, viewing robots as the next engine of growth.
Chinese smartphone maker Honor has introduced a new 'robot phone' and its first humanoid assistant, alongside a foldable handset, at MWC Barcelona, signaling an aggressive push into AI-powered hardware.
A Japanese research team has developed a humanoid robot capable of engaging in Buddhist dialogue, showcasing advancements in AI and robotics for cultural and philosophical applications.
BMW announced plans to integrate humanoid robots into its production line at a German plant, joining other carmakers like Tesla in adopting AI-powered robots to reduce labor and manufacturing costs.
A Shanghai startup unveiled Moya, a humanoid robot with warm skin that feels disturbingly human. The biometric AI robot is launching in 2026 for $173,000.
Hyundai Motor Group and Tesla are expanding their competitive dynamic from electric vehicles into the humanoid robotics market, with a focus on their differing strategies for robot pricing.
Toyota has contracted seven Agility humanoid robots for its Canadian factory, marking a significant step in integrating advanced robotics into manufacturing.
A martial arts performance by dancing humanoid robots at a Chinese gala has captivated viewers and prompted experts to consider the broader capabilities of these advanced humanoids.
US artificial intelligence and robotics firms have urged lawmakers to take action against Chinese robot manufacturers – singling out Unitree Robotics – citing increased competition and national security risks, in a sign that humanoid robots may emerge as a new battleground in the widening US-China tech rivalry.
China’s speed of advancement in humanoid robots is alarming, and the US government should formulate coordinated policies and strategies to counter Chinese firms’ dominance in the...
Humanoid robots are being introduced into a small town factory in South Carolina, marking a new step in industrial automation and potentially transforming manufacturing processes.
A humanoid robot reportedly frightened a 70-year-old woman in Macau, leading to her hospitalization and the robot being escorted away by police, prompting online jokes about its 'arrest'.
Singularity Update: You Have No Idea How Crazy Humanoid Robots Have Gotten
Authored by Peter H. Diamandis via Metatrends,
I just spent the afternoon at Figure headquarters in San Jose with Brett Adcock and David Blundin, and I’m still processing what I saw.
We’re not talking about concept robots. We’re talking about fully autonomous humanoid robots running neural networks end-to-end, doing kitchen work, unloading dishwashers, organizing packages – for hours at a time, with no...
Two Phantom MK-1 humanoid soldier robots were delivered to Ukraine in February by a US company for assessment in combat conditions, marking one of the first tests of robotic soldiers in real warfare as Ukraine integrates high-tech systems into its defense.
Franco-Italian chip producer STMicro announced plans to implement humanoid robots and retrain its workforce to prevent the closure of older factories amidst increasing competitive pressure.
Humanoid Soldiers Tested In Ukraine; Founder Eyes Contract To Patrol US Border
Corporate media is finally catching up to our humanoid robot theme, with these bots moving beyond factory floors and possibly soon marching onto modern battlefields, as conflicts rage in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
TIME reports that Foundation Robotics, a U.S.-based startup developing humanoid robots for industrial and military applications, has recently sent two Phantom MK1 robots to Ukraine ...
The US-developed Figure 03 humanoid robot was showcased autonomously tidying a messy living room, with Figure AI stating that the robot's skills highlight new capabilities of their Helix 02 system.
Nvidia-backed Figure AI's Helox 02 humanoid robot demonstrated autonomous household chores, prompting Elon Musk to question its operational method. Figure AI's CEO confirmed the robot was fully autonomous, a point of contention also surrounding Tesla's Optimus robot. This highlights the competitive race towards achieving humanoid AGI.
LG CNS has taken a stake in Silicon Valley robotics startup Dexmate as the Korean technology services company moves to deploy humanoid robots in industrial workplaces such as warehouses and factories. The investment, announced Tuesday, was made through LG Technology Ventures, the venture capital arm of LG Group. Financial terms were not disclosed. Dexmate, based in Santa Clara, California, develops mobile humanoid robots designed for logistics and manufacturing environments. According to LG CNS,
Agility Robotics is deploying its humanoid robot, Digit, at Toyota's Canada manufacturing plant to take on repetitive jobs and address workforce shortages, highlighting the growing role of robots in industries.
Noble Machines, a startup founded by former NASA and SpaceX engineers, is developing a new AI-driven robotics platform that enables humanoid robots to be trained rapidly for complex tasks in demanding environments.
Chinese researchers have developed a large-scale 3D facial dataset aimed at making humanoid robots increasingly difficult to distinguish from real humans, enhancing their human-like appearance.
China is rolling out new guidelines to boost technology investment and is actively integrating AI into various sectors, including education and commercial aerospace, while also seeing significant advancements in humanoid robotics.
A national political adviser in China has urged an active embrace of the AI era, while discussions are underway to establish standards for humanoids to accelerate their adoption and use.
BMW is integrating humanoid robots into the production of its popular car models, with initial tests conducted in Leipzig in December 2025 and further testing planned for April 2026.
A Japanese research team has developed and unveiled a humanoid robot capable of engaging in Buddhist dialogue, showcasing advancements in AI and robotics for cultural and spiritual applications.
During one of the busiest travel periods of the year, the metro network in Hefei, China, utilized robotic assistance. Humanoid assistants provided directions, quadruped robotic dogs patrolled platforms, and drones scanned tunnels.
Xiaomi is intensifying its five-year plan to develop core technologies, including chips, artificial intelligence, and operating systems, aiming to become a deep-tech player amidst China's drive for self-reliance.
US software company OpenMind, according to founder and CEO Jan Liphardt, caused a commotion last year at a park in San Francisco where the firm shot a promotional video.
“A crowd of people came, children came running, cars stopped and the police came,” he said, because “there was a robot in the park”.
In an interview, Liphardt told the South China Morning Post that such a scenario would have been treated differently on the other side of the world. “If a [Unitree] G1 walked across the street i...
The 2026 Spring Festival Gala, one of the world’s most-watched television events, featured a dazzling array of humanoid robots. They performed martial arts, executed intricate sword dances and even took part in a comedy skit alongside human celebrities.
While parts of the world still view humanoid robots with a mixture of fear and suspicion, as potential job-stealers or sci-fi villains, China is increasingly embracing them as partners in work, entertainment and daily life. Amid the escalating...
TechnologyBusiness InsiderDaily Star BD26d ago2 sources
Ben Goertzel had dozens of email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein.
Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Getty Images
Ben Goertzel, a computer scientist who popularized the term AGI, courted Jeffrey Epstein for research funding, emails show.
DoJ files show that Goertzel was aware of Epstein's criminal charges, and their correspondence continued until at least 2018.
Goertzel told Business Insider he "made a mistake" in accepting Epstein's money and regretted not doing due diligence.
In January 2013, Jeffrey Epstein sent a blunt email to the computer scientist Ben Goertzel. Epstein had funded Goertzel's research in artificial intelligence and was frustrated with a lack of progress. However, on this day, the disgraced financier wasn't writing to discuss algorithms or neural networks — he wanted to discuss Goertzel's hair.
"I think it is now time for you to drop the hippie look," Epstein wrote, warning Goertzel that his "disheveled 80s appearance" was an "unnecessary hindrance" to securing the capital that might one day help the two men achieve AGI — artificial general intelligence, a hypothetical level of computer intelligence that could surpass that of humans. Epstein compared the scientist's ponytail to "spinach in the teeth of a friend."
"I would be willing to cut my hair for a lot of AGI money," Goertzel replied.
Ben Goerzel (right) with Kelly Larson (co-curator of TEDx Hong Kong and Asia Consciousness Festival) and Jeffrey Martin (visiting assistant professor at Polytechnic University)
Chris Ip/South China Morning Post via Getty Images
The exchange was among dozens between Epstein and Goertzel in files released by the Department of Justice, chronicling Epstein's fascination with the potential of AI. Goertzel, a researcher who helped popularize the term AGI and develop the humanoid robot Sophia, courted Epstein for money over several years, promising he could build the "Sputnik of AI," the emails show.
In an online résumé that has since been removed, Goertzel said Epstein gave him a $100,000 research grant in 2001. Emails reviewed by Business Insider show Epstein agreed to give Goertzel at least another $100,000 between 2008 and 2018, spread out across multiple transfers. It could not be learned how much of the money Goertzel ultimately received.
The emails show Goertzel was aware of Epstein's criminal charges. In a 2010 email, Goertzel congratulated Epstein on his release from the Palm Beach County Jail. In 2008, Epstein had pleaded guilty to two sex charges, including solicitation of a minor. In 2015, several days after Prince Andrew was named in a lawsuit over underage sex claims related to Epstein, Goertzel wrote about "utterly idiotic negative publicity in the news" and said he was sorry Epstein's camp had to deal with it.
"Maybe some variation of what is alleged did happen, but if so it was surely an occurrence among reasonably mature people who mutually consented at the time, so why is it anybody else's business?" Goertzel wrote, before asking for $25,000 for a "corporate contribution" to one of his companies.
In a statement to Business Insider, Goertzel said he "made a mistake" in accepting Epstein's money. He said he regretted not doing due diligence on Epstein's crimes and that he had "basically zero knowledge of Epstein's sexual peculiarities and exploitative practices."
He added: "I deeply regret being social-engineered by this terrible human being and not doing more research into him decades ago. I won't make this sort of mistake again."
'The Sputnik of AI'
Goertzel is currently the CEO of SingularityNET, an AI and blockchain company. He is also chair of The AGI Society, a nonprofit that holds an annual AI conference.
His correspondence with Epstein was among millions of documents released by the Justice Department. The files have reverberated through the business world, revealing emails between Epstein and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Virgin founder Richard Branson, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, among others. The fallout for some people named in the files has been swift. Goldman Sachs' top lawyer, Kathryn Ruemmler, resigned in mid-February, and Brad Karp resigned as chairman of the law firm Paul Weiss, among others.
Appearing in the files does not necessarily suggest that a person has engaged in wrongdoing.
In one of the emails released by the Justice Department, Goertzel said he had known Epstein since 2001. Epstein took an interest in what labs like MIT and Google were doing in the AI field. Goertzel, who some consider one of the "godfathers of AGI," coauthored a 2006 book on the topic, and in 2008, he created OpenCog, an open-source project to try to architect human intelligence. Goertzel told Business Insider that he met Epstein through "mutual friends" in New York City.
Epstein was well-connected with the rich and the powerful.
Martin BUREAU / AFP via Getty Images
Epstein appeared concerned in some emails by the lack of support for Goertzel's AGI theories among mainstream experts. "i believe in you. i can't figure out why i am in the minority," he told Goertzel in 2010. In a 2011 email, Goertzel asked if Epstein would fund half of a $3 million grant over four years to fund a "full speed ahead toward AGI" plan, which included building AI that could control a video game character and a humanoid robot.
"Of course, US$3M is a lot of money. However, this would be the 'Sputnik of AGI' -- it would set the development of AGI on a whole new course," Goertzel wrote.
In his statement to Business Insider, Goertzel said, "I had basically zero knowledge of Epstein's sexual peculiarities and exploitative practices and have no orientation toward that sort of thing and little understanding of it -- it was all about being overly desperate at that stage for any source of $$ to fund innovative frontier science, which Epstein did recognize as valuable but mainstream science at the time did not."
Epstein sometimes pushed Goertzel for more tangible proof of breakthroughs and tried to influence some research directions, the emails show. In February 2013, he emailed Goertzel and suggested that having an AI system pass "iq tests for children" would provide a concrete research milestone. Goertzel agreed to pursue the idea.
"Epstein was very smart and fairly technically savvy and had a lot of ideas about AI, which were not terribly stupid nor terribly brilliant," Goertzel told Business Insider. "I did not pay much attention to them nor did they influence my work in any way."
Ben Goertzel, gives a press conference with Hanson Robotics at Web Summit, 2019
Henrique Casinhas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Epstein used corporate and foundation vehicles to send money to Goertzel, including his Southern Trust Company, registered in the US Virgin Islands, the emails show.
"As before, we can do this as a tax-deductible donation to a nonprofit, assuming that's still your preference," Goertzel said in a September 2010 email to Epstein.
Depending on the circumstances, Goertzel, who spent some of his time in Hong Kong, requested that the money be sent to different nonprofits' accounts, the emails show. In 2014, Goertzel requested that Epstein send the money to Humanity+, a nonprofit focused on transhumanism that he was vice president of. Goertzel said it would act as a fiscal "pass-through" so the money could be diverted to himself and other researchers.
"Yes all this was totally legit, the funding was going to open-source AGI R&D for the good of humanity and its future, which was very much within the mandate of Humanity+ as a 501-3c nonprofit," Goertzel told Business Insider.
'Moronic media shitstorm'
Goertzel told Business Insider he "reconnected" with Epstein in 2008 after several years of no contact, and that Epstein told him about his legal situation.
"He framed it as a politically motivated prosecution for involvement with a consenting adult. I believed him. I should not have," Goertzel told Business Insider.
Several emails show Goertzel and Epstein arranging to meet in person. Goertzel told Business Insider they met on several occasions at Epstein's New York and Florida offices. "I never hung out with him in a social setting, never went to the island or flew in the jet or saw him partying with girlfriends or anything like that," he said.
In 2015, Goertzel was following up on a payment he hoped to receive from Epstein. Richard Kahn, Epstein's accountant, responded that it had to be put on hold due to "bad press." The Guardian had reported days earlier that Prince Andrew was named in a US lawsuit involving Epstein.
"I don't want to push you guys at a difficult time, but given my own situation I do feel moved to ask if Jeffrey might still be able to help with $25K for my 'corporate contribution' to the OpenCog Hong Kong project," Goertzel wrote. "He has helped in this way every year since 2010, usually via a donation to Humanity+."
The South China Morning Post reported earlier on some of the payments Epstein made to Goertzel to help him secure Hong Kong grants.
Epstein responded, "yes 25," and Goertzel thanked him and said he hoped to resume conversations "once this current moronic media shitstorm blows over."
Emails between the men continued for several years. In December 2018, a few days after the Miami Herald published an investigation into Epstein that contributed to his arrest on federal sex-trafficking charges the next year, Goertzel sent an email inviting Epstein to an AI and blockchain event in New York. Alternatively, he said, they could find another time to meet in the city.
"let me know if you're in town and might spare a few moments," Goertzel wrote. "it's been a while!"
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Traditional prayers, fireworks, and fairs marked the Lunar New Year, welcoming the Year of the Horse with both ancient customs and modern innovations like humanoid robots.
TechnologyAl JazeeraSCMPFrance 24+2Times of IndiaRappler28d ago5 sources
Humanoid #robots performing #KungFu routines were among the highlights of China’s Spring Festival gala on Monday. The TV show – the most-watched in #China – is held annually on the eve of the Chinese New Year and is often used to highlight the country’s tech industry advances. This year, China’s fast-growing robotics sector was firmly in the spotlight, with robots also performing dance routines and comedy sketches.
