Robot goes berserk – creepy video captures Unitree H1 freakout
Since May 4, a video circulating on X has cast doubt on the growing excitement surrounding humanoid robots. The clip shows a troubling incident involving the H1 model from Chinese manufacturer Unitree Robotics. During testing, the 5-foot-11-inch-tall android suddenly lunged out of control, nearly striking two nearby employees. The situation was brought under control only thanks to the quick reaction of an engineer. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
The exact cause of the robot’s outburst has yet to be officially confirmed, though a programming error is suspected. Experts stress there’s no sign the android acted with any independent intent – it is more likely a familiar risk in the development of autonomous systems. Still, the incident has sparked heated debate on social media.
"Skynet is online": From jokes to genuine concern
The video quickly went viral on platforms like X and Reddit, sparking thousands of reactions – many laced with humor and satire. Comments like “Skynet is online,” “Temu Optimus” and “This is the beginning of the end” highlight how deeply pop culture has shaped public perceptions of humanoid robots. Beneath the jokes, however, there’s a clear undercurrent of concern. Many users pointed out the risks such malfunctions could pose in critical fields like robot-assisted surgery, where reliability is paramount.
The incident also sparked calls for clearer emergency protocols. “There needs to be a big red button like at petrol stations,” one user suggested. Others directed criticism at the developers themselves, with remarks like “There are no bad robots, only bad programmers,” underscoring growing demands for accountability in AI and robotics design.
Not an isolated case: Similar incidents have been reported
This incident is part of a growing list of troubling events involving humanoid machines. As recently as February 2025, a robot at a festival in China set course for a crowd of people before being stopped just in time. Cases like these highlight that, despite remarkable advancements in humanoid robotics, ensuring safety and reliability remains one of the field’s most pressing challenges.
Source(s)
OSINTdefender via X formerly Twitter
