An AI-powered robot “commits suicide” after a year of work

Robotics in South Korea

In South Korea, robotics plays a very significant role.
The country – where companies like Samsung, Hyundai, or LG were born – boasts the highest concentration of robots on the planet.
It is not uncommon to see these machines being used in factories, in the care of the elderly, or even in conducting orchestras.

The “Robot Supervisor” Incident

The trend of integrating robots in various fields is so well-established that the city council of Gumi, in the Gyeongsang province, appointed its first robotic official in August of last year.
However, the device, nicknamed “robot supervisor,” was involved in an incident that did not go unnoticed.

The “Suicidal” Robot-Worker

According to the local news agency Yonhap, on June 27, the robot was performing administrative tasks when it suddenly fell down the stairs – a fall of over two meters.
Severely damaged, it was found in non-working condition, scattered in pieces at the scene of the incident.

Investigations and Consequences

The news quickly spread on social networks, with some South Korean users calling it “the first robot suicide in the country.” Authorities have launched a formal investigation to identify the causes of the incident and prevent similar ones from happening again.

The robot, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), had a monthly fee paid to Bear Robotics, the company that owned it.
Its main task was to move between the 1st and 4th floor of the city hall to deliver documents, working from 9 am to 6 pm every day.

Final Thoughts

Despite the speculations, it is unlikely that the robot had a conscious “awakening” that led it to throw itself down the stairs.
Witnesses mentioned seeing the robot “spinning around,” possibly showing early signs of malfunction.

Colleagues will miss their robotic companion, as it was officially part of their team and worked diligently.
However, for now, the city council has no plans to replace the damaged robot.