Watch: Humanoid robot punched, pinned down in a humiliating webcast, sparks outrage

Yahoo

31-01-2025

A viral livestream featuring a $70,000 humanoid robot has sparked debate over human behavior toward machines.In the stream, influencer Kai Cenat and two others are seen mishandling a Unitree G1 humanoid while attempting to assemble it.The footage, taken from Cenat's latest broadcast, has drawn criticism, raising ethical concerns about the treatment of advanced robotics.While artificial intelligence (AI) lacks emotions, the incident highlights broader questions about how humans interact with machines as they become more lifelike and integrated into daily life.
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The viral video, which depicts Cenat and two other streamers, Agent and Fanum, abusing the humanoid robot during a broadcast, has generated discussion on social media. The three of them first tried to teach the robot simple commands like walking, but their behavior soon became more aggressive.The robot stumbled in the video after being kicked from behind by one of Cenat's buddies and then by Cenat himself. They pushed it around, eventually causing it to collapse again, even though they assisted it in standing up. The humanoid was once pushed into a stack of crates. Later, it tried to flee in the direction of a door, but one of the group members caught it and pinned it down.Many viewers have compared the video to the beginning of a robot rebellion, and the video has been extensively shared on X and other platforms. The incident highlights moral concerns about how people should behave around sophisticated robotics, even though it is still up for dispute.
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The clip was later reposted on X by gamer and journalist Ian Miles Cheong, who captioned it, "Abusing robots seems so wrong. If this thing has AI built-in, it's going to remember the trauma." The video has since accumulated over 100,000 views, drawing widespread criticism. Many viewers condemned the streamers' actions, calling them unethical and raising concerns about the treatment of advanced robots.
During his Mafiathon 2 event in November, Cenat showcased a $24,000 robot assistant at his $55 million mansion. The Eve humanoid from 1X Technologies handled chores, security, and entertainment, adding to the lavish 30-day event aimed at breaking subscriber records and raising funds for schools in Nigeria, set in his expansive 14-bedroom estate.
The G1 Edu Ultimate CU5 humanoid robot, recently purchased by Kai Cenat for $70,000, has drawn attention for its advanced features and hefty price tag. Manufactured by Unitree, this model is among the most expensive in the G1 series, surpassing the $16,000 base version when customized with additional capabilities.Weighing 77 lbs (35 kg) , the G1 Edu is designed for dynamic environments, including sports and research applications. It has 41 degrees of freedom, fully articulated limbs, and sophisticated five-fingered hands that can manipulate objects precisely. Its high-speed synchronous motors and industrial-grade cross-roller bearings offer durability and accuracy; each arm can support 6.6 lbs (3 kg), and the knee joint can generate up to 120 Nm of torque.
A manual remote control operates the G1 Edu, but it may eventually be able to operate autonomously thanks to future over-the-air upgrades. It has a speaker and a four-microphone array, which could enable speech interaction when combined with ChatGPT or other AI models.
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The robot runs on a 9,000 mAh lithium battery for about two hours, and its processing capability may be increased with an optional Nvidia Jetson Orin module.The G1 Edu has a depth camera and 3D LiDAR for sensing and navigation, which guarantees accurate environmental interaction. It's Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6 provide smooth connectivity.The robot is highly configurable since Unitree provides comprehensive technical assistance and is designed for secondary development. Recent developments in the G1 series have added whole-body movement, running, and even football-playing skills, however its current usefulness is still restricted.
Regarding the incident in question, while AI lacks emotions, the development has sparked debate over human responsibility in interacting with increasingly lifelike machines.