A robot resembling Vladimir Putin had a public mishap during its unveiling. Russia’s first AI-powered humanoid android attempted a wave before falling face down on stage in Moscow. Embarrassed handlers quickly righted the robot while others tried to cover the incident with a black sheet.
Ukraine wasted no time in ridiculing the robot named AIDOL, or Artificial Intelligence Doll, for its embarrassing debut. The Nevzorov channel in Ukraine sarcastically commented on the robot’s resemblance to Putin and its immediate fall during the presentation.
The incident occurred at the Yarovit Hall Congress Centre, where the CEO of the startup, Vladimir Vitukhin, attributed the malfunction to calibration issues possibly caused by poor lighting or technical glitches. Despite the fall, the robot later engaged with the audience from a stationary position.
Vitukhin acknowledged the mistake as a learning opportunity and highlighted that 77% of the robot comprises Russian components, crucial amidst Western sanctions limiting access to advanced imports. The robot’s key feature includes the ability to communicate through facial expressions and empathetic behavior, with the capability to display a variety of human emotions and micro-expressions.
While the Putin administration aims to advance robotic technologies through a new technological coalition involving leading companies and universities, online commentators humorously likened the robot’s movements to that of a Russian vodka drinker. Critics on social media platforms like Musk’s app X joked about the robot’s behavior resembling that of someone under the influence of vodka.