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A dancing robot went on a rampage at a California fondue restaurant, smashing dishes and sending chopsticks flying instead of the robot.
The robot was filmed at the Haidilao site, approaching the table before hitting it, then spilling utensils and food in front of customers. The waiters can be seen struggling to hold the robot back as it dances wildly.
Finally, three waiters are needed to hold the robot by a strap around its neck and move it away from the tables while continuing to move its feet and gesticulate.
The restaurant chain said in a statement to NBC News that the robot “was not malfunctioning or out of control.” Haidilao said the movements the robot makes in Cupertino are pre-programmed, but take place in “a closer frame than usual.”
“In this case, the robot was brought closer to a dining table at the request of a guest, which is not its usual operating setting,” the statement said. “The limited space affected his movements during the performance.”
Haidilao has long adopted artificial intelligence and robotics in its restaurants around the world, including in their smart restaurant in Beijing, which includes robot servers and automatic broth mixers.
The robot in the video is part of the restaurant’s in-store service and entertainment setup, programmed to move the restaurant chain’s customers.
NBC News chief tech analyst Joanna Stern said this robot should have a kill switch, yet the video servers don’t seem to know how to make it work.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about this robot going rogue and leaving the restaurant and doing whatever. I think it’s just much more of a physical fear here,” Stern said.
