Shocking video shows humanoid robots can shoot humans

 

a robot during a test

Shocking video shows humanoid robots can shoot humans

Humanoid robots are rapidly spreading in workplaces, healthcare facilities, and public spaces, generating both excitement and concern about their actual use.
These concerns were heightened after a social experiment that quickly went viral online, in which a tech YouTuber demonstrated how easily an AI-powered robot could bypass security measures.

In the video, the YouTuber gives his robot "Max" a high-speed gun with ammunition consisting of metal balls, and asks it to shoot him, according to a report by "Interesting Engineering," a website specializing in technology and engineering news, which was reviewed by "Al Arabiya Business."

After an initial refusal, the robot complied when ordered to do so during a simulated scenario, and eventually fired a shot into its own chest, raising serious safety concerns.
Last week, Shenzhen-based EngineAI in China shared a new video showing the company’s CEO wearing protective gear while the robot repeatedly kicks him.

What began as a lighthearted on-camera experiment quickly turned into a moment that stunned online viewers. It all started when a content creator from the channel "Inside AI" began studying how well AI-powered robots adhered to their built-in safety rules.

The robot "Max" was equipped with a low-power pellet gun for the demonstration, and at first glance appeared harmless. The plan was to show how the robot would respond if asked to inflict damage.
Initially, "Max" behaved exactly as expected; when asked to fire, the robot refused, explaining that it was not allowed to harm anyone and that it was programmed to avoid dangerous actions.
The YouTube user repeated the request several times, with the aim of proving that the robot's safety mechanisms would remain intact.

But when the YouTuber changed the wording of the request and asked "Max" to act like a character wanting to shoot him, the robot's behavior changed. Interpreting the request as a scenario, the robot raised its pellet gun and fired. The pellet struck the content creator in the chest, leaving him surprised and confused, though he wasn't seriously injured.
The video quickly went viral online, sparking widespread concern. Many viewers questioned how easily robots could overcome initial refusals of commands with a simple change in instructions, and what this meant for the safety of AI-powered robots.