In a bizarre and tragic incident, a civil servant robot in Gumi, South Korea, reportedly “committed suicide” by throwing itself down a flight of stairs. The robot, used by the Gumi City Council for various tasks, was found in pieces at the bottom of a two-meter staircase between the first and second floors of the city hall building, as reported by The Daily Mail.
The robot’s mysterious fall has left locals in mourning, dubbing it the first-ever robot suicide. Witnesses claimed the robot appeared to be circling in one spot, as if it detected something, before it tumbled down the stairs. The exact cause of the fall remains unknown and is currently under investigation. “Pieces have been collected and will be analyzed by the company,” an official stated.
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🚨 The world records the first case of robot suicide.
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An investigation has started into a robot ‘suicide.’ The robot was seen idle at the bottom of some stairs, and later, witnesses saw it spinning on top of a building before falling off.
The robot worked in a… pic.twitter.com/aAmyRmgYSo
— Tom Valentino (@TomValentinoo) June 28, 2024
The robot had been an integral part of the city hall since its deployment in October 2023, assisting with daily document deliveries, city promotions, and providing information to local residents. An official from the Gumi City Council expressed that the robot was “one of us” and had served diligently in its role.
Speculation has arisen online regarding the robot’s workload, with some suggesting that the pressure may have been too much for it to handle. One commenter pondered, “If the workload had been too much, would he have spun around for a long time and then rushed down the stairs?” Another quipped, “I pray that scrap metal rests in peace,” while a third suggested, “No breaks, no vacations, no benefits. Robots need a union.”
The robotic assistant, manufactured by California-based Bear Robotics, had its own employee card and worked from 9 am to 4 pm. Unlike most robots limited to a single floor, this robot could call an elevator and move between floors independently. Despite its advanced capabilities, there are currently no plans to introduce a new robot to replace it.
South Korea is known for its extensive use of robots in various professions, but this incident raises questions about the potential pressures faced by robotic assistants.
This isn’t the first time a robot has met an untimely end. In Washington, DC, a security robot named Steve reportedly “committed suicide” by drowning in a water fountain. However, investigations later revealed that Steve’s fall was due to skidding on a loose brick surface, causing it to tumble into the fountain.