Greater Noida (World Desk): The world saw a humanoid robot entering the ring for the first time in a unique kick-boxing match held in Hangzhou city of China. This match was organized under the “China Media Group World Robot Competition”, in which a state-of-the-art humanoid robot developed by Unitri Robotics participated. In this match, the robot demonstrated its agility, balance and combat ability in such a way that the crowd of spectators was thrilled. This match also demonstrated the speed at which robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) are progressing.
In both the exhibition match and the real competitive bouts, the robot exchanged punches and kicks with great accuracy. However, this fight was between two robots rather than two humans, and many consider it just a technical demonstration.
While on the one hand this event is being considered a milestone in the field of technology, some people found this performance to be artificial and remote-controlled. Many viewers believe that robots are still not fully autonomous and still have a long way to go.
Mixed reactions on social media
The video of this unique fight went viral on social media and received a flood of reactions. One user quipped, “What I found most weird was the referee who was judging between two machines!” Another user joked, “When they know their origin story, they will destroy us all!” Another commented: “This is not just a show – it is the beginning of a new species.”
However, some users did not seem very impressed with this ‘progress’. One person wrote, “It is clearly visible that these robots are remote-controlled. There is no autonomy in it, nor any new revolution.”
Questions raised on Unitri Robotics
Unitri Robotics has been in controversies before. Recently, a video went viral on social media, in which a robot was seen attacking its own operator. The incident has reignited concerns and debates about AI and robot safety. In February, a robot attacked a crowd at a Spring Festival gala in Tianjin. Such incidents are not limited to China — a robot was also reported to have attacked a Tesla factory in Texas, US.
Experts believe these incidents are caused by software glitches, and show that AI technology needs more rigorous testing and control procedures.
A sign or a warning for the future?
While this robotic battle may have been a means of entertainment, it also raises many serious questions. Is this just a celebration of technological progress or a warning that we have to proceed in this direction with extreme caution?
This is definitely a historic moment in the world of AI and robotics, but it is also important that we do not ignore safety and ethics.
