In a surprising incident, a robot working for the Gumi City Council in South Korea has sparked debate after what many are calling the country’s first "robot suicide." The robot, known as the 'Robot Supervisor,' was found at the bottom of a stairwell between the first and second floors of the council building. Witnesses reported seeing the robot behaving strangely, "circling in one spot as if something was there," before it fell.
City council officials quickly responded, collecting the pieces of the shattered robot for analysis. The cause of the fall remains unclear, but the incident has raised questions about the robot's workload and its impact.
According to reports, the robot had been employed since August 2023 and was known for its hard work. It performed various tasks, such as delivering documents. The robot was a familiar sight in city hall, working from 9 am to 6 pm and moving between floors using elevators – a rare ability for robots.
Developed by Bear Robotics, a startup from California, this robot had a broader range of duties compared to its counterparts. It was part of an innovative effort in South Korea, a country with a high robot density – one industrial robot for every ten employees, according to the International Federation of Robotics.
The incident has led some to question whether the robot was overworked. Others are wondering about the broader implications of integrating robots into everyday tasks.
This event has opened a discussion on how robots are used in the workplace and the potential pressures they might face. The community and officials are now looking for answers to understand what went wrong.
