16-07-2025
Orwellian clip shows dystopian robot horror that has become new normal in crime-plagued Los Angeles
Los Angeles is now so rough tech companies are buying dummies to use as fake homeless people while testing their new delivery robots.
The wheeled devices have been filmed maneuvering past mannequins sprawled on the City of Angels' grimy sidewalks while being tested by food delivery firm Serve Robotics.
In the latest footage, a stunned witness shared a clip of the device after catching Serve Robotics engineers testing their device on the sidewalk.
But the witness quickly realized the dummies were a good idea - because in real life the little robots will regularly have to maneuver LA's thousands of vagrants.
'My mind went straight to, yeah they better learn how to dodge all that,' he said.
'It's more important to be safe and go around and dodge lawsuits.'
The footage circulated across social media as people were left in awe at what passes for normal in LA in 2025.
I seriously can't believe this is real
Tech workers are out testing and training delivery robots in Los Angeles California to avoid homeless people on sidewalks
Tech worker 'testing in progress' with homeless dummies setup for the testing
And Gavin Newsom wants to be President
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) July 16, 2025
After the clip went viral on X, users mocked California's Democrat leaders for allowing the state to require homeless-dodging robots.
'Instead of (Governor Gavin) Newsom and (LA Mayor Karen) Bass addressing California's homelessness crisis, they're spending money on teaching robots to simply go around,' one X user remarked.
'It's like patching a leaky roof by redirecting the rain rather than fixing the hole.'
Another said: 'Instead of cleaning up the homeless situation, we've decided to get a robot that goes around them. Whose brilliant idea was this? Newsom or Bass?'
A third joked: 'Why do people watch dystopia movies? Bro just move to California.'
California has emerged as the homelessness capital of America in recent years, with many flocking from across the country to enjoy its lenient policies and warm weather.
In a shock report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 2024, it was found that the number of homeless people in California increased by over 30,000 in just five years.
While California struggles with 187,084 homeless individuals, New York follows with 158,019, then Washington with 31,554, and Florida with 31,362.
Between 2021 and 2022, California spent a staggering $7.2 billion on its homeless population, according to a HUD report from 2022.
This equates to $41,000 per vagrant, with the total spent on homelessness in the state over a five-year span reaching over $24 billion.
