If you’re disturbed by how Kai Cenat treats his robots, wait until you see how Booster Robotics treats its humanoids.
Cenat, the most popular streamer on Twitch, recently ruffled feathers for the way he and his friends treat the Unitree G1 humanoid robot he reportedly purchased for $70,000. In footage from his livestream, Cenat and others aggressively try to knock down the robot.
The viral clips sparked discussions about AI ethics and anthropomorphizing robots.
Some expressed discomfort for what they called bullying or abuse of an AI-powered machine. They called the behavior a disturbing reflection of how humans might treat increasingly sophisticated technology in the future.
Others found the backlash to be absurd, noting that the robotics industry has a long history of getting physical. Cenat said he was testing the robot’s stability features and questioned why people feel different about a robot than other smart devices. He jokingly gifted the G1 a car to make up for the bullying.
Leading robotics firm Boston Dynamics gained virality in the 2000s and 2010s with videos showcasing robots like BigDog and Atlas getting kicked and hit during stability tests. The demonstrations were intended to show the resiliency of the robots, but some perceived the actions as abuse. Boston Dynamics, now owned by Hyundai, has since dialed back the robot violence.
In 2014, a social experiment called HitchBot explored whether robots could trust humans. Candian researchers David Harris Smith and Frauke Zeller designed the robot to travel by hitchhiking, relying entirely on the goodwill of strangers. The solar-powered robot weighed under 11 kg (25 lbs), had poodle noodles for arms, wore Wellington boots, and a smiley face displayed on its LED screen.
Tracked by GPS, the HitchBot safely ventured across Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands, but only lasted two weeks in the United States. En route from Boston to San Francisco, HitchBot met its demise in Philadelphia when it was vandalized, decapitated and left beyond repair.
More recently, leading Chinese robotics firm Unitree has become known for putting its robots through the ringer. In its marketing videos, the abuse Unitree’s humanoids and quadrupeds endure make the Cenat’s behavior seem mild.
As Unitree doubles down on its robot thrashings, Booster Robotics is taking things to another level. The Chinese startup just shared footage of its pint-sized humanoid robot, the T1, enduring a barrage of stress tests.
An engineer breaks a glass bottle over its head, smashes concrete with a sledgehammer on its chest and beats it with a stick so hard it breaks. Despite the torrent, the robot keeps going.
The Booster T1, which stands 1.2 meters and weighs 30 kg, has become known for its flexibility and dynamic movements. The Beijing-based startup made the humanoid robot, which is intended for developers, available for purchase in late 2024.
Booster Robotics recently announced its partnership with RoboCup. The leading international robotics competition aims to develop fully autonomous humanoid robot soccer players that can compete against World Cup champions by 2050.