Haidilao robot incident raises safety questions in California

A dancing robot, which appears to be an AgiBot X2, caused a disruption at a Haidilao restaurant in Cupertino, California. The robot began smashing plates and dishware, prompting at least three employees to struggle to restrain the machine. The robot model involved appears to be the AgiBot X2, a humanoid robot manufactured by AgiBot that was featured at the CES conference in January. The incident was captured in a video posted on the Chinese social network Xiaohongshu by user Meooow, showing the staff attempting to intervene as the robot disrupted the dining area. Haidilao is a major Chinese chain of hot pot restaurants, a dining style that involves hot pots of soup. The presence of hot liquids in these dining settings underscores the potential safety risks when automated machines operate near customers.

Haidilao denied that the robot was “malfunctioning or out of control.” In a statement to NBC News, the company confirmed the “mechanical contretemps” but attributed the incident to the robot being placed in a restricted space at a guest’s request. “In this case, the robot was brought closer to a dining table at a guest’s request, which is not its typical operating setting,” Haidilao stated, adding that “the limited space affected its movement during the performance.” AgiBot, the manufacturer of the robot involved, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The incident highlights the broader challenges of integrating humanoid robots into food service environments. Haidilao has previously experimented with automation, including a “smart restaurant” concept in Beijing. Other companies are also deploying automation technology in the sector. Competitors in food service robotics include Shin Starr, which is working on fully autonomous kitchens, and Pudu Robotics, which manufactures the BellaBot robot model. While some companies are deploying humanoid robots for entertainment, others focus on functional automation, such as autonomous kitchens or delivery robots.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the potential safety risks of deploying humanoid robots in close proximity to customers in the food service industry.