WTF?! Makers of humanoid robots often claim they can do anything a human can. Unfortunately, that might include sexual assault. Police in Germany have seized a robot believed to have groped a 16-year-old girl while it was controlled by two male teenage boys. The whole thing was reportedly livestreamed with commentary, too.
The alleged incident took place overnight on October 10-11 in the city of Cologne, reports AP.
The robot stood about 3 feet 11 inches tall and wore a white tank top, black sweatpants, a gold chain, and sunglasses. It was also sporting a fake mustache, giving it an Iron Man meets Dr. Disrespect vibe.
Videos posted online show two young men escorting the robot toward a group of women. The machine bumps into one and hugs others on the lively street. The police allege that at one point, the robot touched the buttocks of a 16-year-old girl and made thrusting movements toward her.
Emergency teams that were dispatched to the scene near a fast-food restaurant found the robot in the trunk of a vehicle. The robot and the two young men's mobile phones were seized by officers.
A police spokesperson said the robot's suspected 16-year-old owner and a 19-year-old companion filmed the alleged assault. The pair have not been charged but are considered suspects. Investigators were examining whether the robot's movements were preprogrammed or controlled in real time, which may influence what actions the police take.
"We have not been aware of this phenomenon so far," Cologne police spokesman Christoph Bermel told AP, adding that this sort of incident is "new territory for us."
It wasn't too long ago that humanoid robots were only sold to enterprise users, and the few available commercial ones were priced beyond what most people could afford.
But that's changed over the last few years. Unitree has several commercial humanoid robots for sale at prices that range from the cost of a high-end gaming laptop to that of a second-hand car. We also saw what was described as the first of the machines aimed at consumers, 1X's Neo, in 2025. It carries a $20,000 price tag, can do household chores, and, concerningly, will occasionally allow a human operator to take control and see through its eyes.