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It was like a real-life Rock ’em Sock ’em.
The rise of the machines seems closer than we might like to think. Freaky footage captured the moment that a humanoid robot seemingly snapped and lashed out at its handlers like something out of a dystopian sci-fi thriller.
“This is what the machine uprising might look like,” Belarusian TV outlet Nexta captioned an X clip of the alleged attack, which boasts over 100,000 views.
In the unsettling clip, which was shot at an undisclosed factory in China, the bot is seen dangling from a construction crane on the factory floor near two men looking on cautiously.
They appear to be testing the humanoid droid’s capabilities.
The two are chatting away when, all of a sudden, the automated biped goes berserk, flailing its arms and legs about in a spectacle that evokes a failed prototype from the “Robocop” movies.
At one point, the raging machine lurches forward while swinging, dragging the stand along with it as the men try and avoid getting robo-bopped.
During the ruckus, the computer falls to the floor while several other items are knocked off the table.
The clip concludes with one of the men flanking the “angry” automaton and dragging its stand back into place in an attempt to stop its cybernetic rampage.
Viewers saw the malfunction as a sign that a robo-revolution was upon us, with many appropriately referencing the “Terminator” films.
“Went full terminator,” said one digital doomsdayer, while another apocalypticist wrote, “Sarah Connor was right.”
“This is what worries me about robotic surgery,” observed another concerning synthetic surgeons becoming increasingly ubiquitous in operating rooms.
Indeed, this shocking incident comes as anthropomorphic-seeming machines are becoming more integrated into our everyday lives. This past winter, Chinese tech firm Pudu Robotics unveiled the very “I, Robot”-esque D9 humanoid robot, which is designed to revolutionize the way we interact with machines.
Its cutting-edge capabilities include walking 4.5 mph — faster than the average human stroll — navigating stairs and even maintaining balance when knocked off-kilter.
In February, Clone Robotics uploaded a video showcasing the “Protoclone,” an eerily realistic humanoid robot that’s purported to be the “world’s first bipedal, musculoskeletal android.”
While the versatile bot is programmed to complete helpful tasks ranging from food preparation to cleaning and conversation, skeptical viewers deemed the Frankenstein-esque creation “dystopian” and “terrifying.”
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Humanoid robot springs to life: ‘Straight out of science fiction’
It’s alive!
An eerily realistic humanoid robot — purported to be the “world’s first bipedal, musculoskeletal android” — twitched to life in a viral clip, which viewers have slammed as “dystopian” and “terrifying.”
Created by Clone Robotics, the faceless “Protoclone” is manufactured with a body to look as lifelike as possible — muscles, tendons, joints and all.
In a video posted on X, which has scored over 32 million views, the Protoclone is suspended in the air as its limbs jerk and spasm, its arms moving at the elbows and legs bending at the knees. While the company celebrated its technological fete, users weren’t impressed.
“While every normal person looks at dystopian sci-fi films as cautionary tales, nerds see them as instruction manuals,” scoffed one critic.
“Creepy declared another user. “Why is the human race hellbent on self-destruction?”
“We had a good run, fellow humans,” one defeated person wrote.
“I actually feel sick after watching this,” someone else chimed in.
The company claims that the Protoclone android can walk, talk, complete chores and more — just like any human could.
“Do it yourself once. Clone will do it forever,” the tagline on the company’s site reads.
The bot, which will be available for preorder this year, memorizes the layout of your home and kitchen inventory, washes dishes and clothes, makes sandwiches and pours drinks, sets the table, holds and retrieves items, vacuums and cleans, shakes hands and even talks.
Protoclone, which is also championed for its ability to walk “naturally,” is equipped with a “Telekinesis training platform,” meaning it can learn new skills.
According to Clone Robotics’ website, the android contains muscular, skeletal, nervous and vascular systems.
The durable robot has the same number of bones as humans — 206 — which are made from “cheap and durable polymers,” as well as joints that are joined by ligaments and connective tissues that mimic the human body.
The artificial muscles are made of myofibers, while its nervous system is comprised of a network of sensors and four depth cameras for vision and feedback. Its vascular system operates similarly to that of a human as well, but instead of pumping blood through the body, it pumps water through its “hydraulic powering system.”
Online, the android — with soft exterior “as plush as a stuff animal” — is touted for its “biomorphic design,” which its creators claim is “straight out of science fiction.”
The cutting-edge creation rivals that of Tesla’s Optimus robot, which CEO Elon Musk previously claimed would be able to complete daily tasks and chores — from shopping to yard work — as well as serve as a babysitter, dog walker or bartender. Other companies are also experimenting with humanoid robots. Boston Dynamics unveiled its robo assistant last year, while Meta is reportedly creating a bot of their own as well.
“The future where you have humanoids at home folding your laundry is a lot closer than you think, and the price will be a lot lower than most people imagine,” 1X CEO Bernt Børnich, whose company recently released a robotic home assistant called NEO Beta, previously said.
“We can manufacture this at a cost of a relatively affordable car.”