In a startling development, a civil servant robot in South Korea reportedly “ended its own life” by throwing itself down a staircase under mysterious circumstances. The incident, which occurred in Gumi City, saw the robot plummet two meters down a stairwell between floors of a municipal building, leaving it severely damaged, as reported by The Daily Mail.
Residents of Gumi City are now mourning what is being dubbed as the first instance of robot suicide. Witnesses observed the robot behaving strangely, seemingly fixated on something, just moments before the tragic fall. Authorities are currently investigating the exact cause of the incident, collecting pieces of the robot for further analysis by the manufacturer.
🚨 The world records the first case of robot suicide.
South Korea 🇰🇷
An investigation has started into a robot ‘suicide.’ The robot was seen idle at the bottom of some stairs, and later, witnesses saw it spinning on top of a building before falling off.
The robot worked in a… pic.twitter.com/aAmyRmgYSo
— Tom Valentino (@TomValentinoo) June 28, 2024
The robot was assigned tasks such as document delivery, city promotion, and providing information to local residents, serving as an integral part of the city hall operations since its deployment in October 2023. An official from the Gumi City Council described the robot as a valued member of their team, emphasizing its diligent service.
Speculation online suggests that the workload may have overwhelmed the robot, prompting its unusual behavior and eventual fall. Concerns about robot welfare and working conditions have surfaced, with some commentators lamenting the absence of breaks and benefits for these automated workers.
Manufactured by Bear Robotics, a California-based startup, the robot had the ability to navigate multiple floors independently, a feature uncommon among similar robots. Despite the incident, there are currently no immediate plans to replace the robot in Gumi City, known for its progressive use of robotic technology across various sectors.
This unfortunate event draws comparisons to a previous incident involving a security robot nicknamed Steve in Washington DC, which was initially reported as a “suicide” by drowning. However, subsequent investigations revealed it was due to an accident caused by a slippery surface.
The incident underscores the evolving relationship between technology and society, raising questions about the integration and welfare of robots in modern urban environments.