Mar 18 • 08:06 UTC 🇫🇷 France Le Figaro

Macao: a woman hospitalized after being frightened by a humanoid robot while walking

A woman in Macao was hospitalized after being startled by a humanoid robot while taking a stroll.

In Macao, a woman was briefly hospitalized after experiencing shock from encountering a humanoid robot during her walk. According to the police report, she was using her mobile phone when she suddenly noticed the robot behind her, prompting a startled reaction that led to her hospitalization. This incident occurred earlier in the month and indicates a growing interaction between the public and robotic technology.

A widely circulated video on social media captured the incident, showing the woman angrily waving her arms at the robot and expressing her agitation in Cantonese, questioning why she was being bothered. Despite the dramatic response, authorities noted that she did not sustain any physical injuries nor did she have any direct contact with the robot, which highlights an interesting facet of public interaction with emerging technologies.

The incident raises questions about the acceptance and design of humanoid robots in public spaces, particularly as robotic technology becomes more prevalent in daily life. While some may embrace these innovations, experiences like this reveal a portion of the population that may need time to adjust, pointing to the challenges ahead in integrating robots into societal norms.

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