📷 Image Credits: The Indian Express
In a tragic turn of events, the Gumi City Council in South Korea witnessed what appears to be the country’s first case of robot ‘suicide’. The incident involved an administrative officer robot that was found unresponsive at the bottom of a two-meter staircase. The robot, known as ‘Robot Supervisor’, had been diligently working for the city council and was a familiar sight to locals.
According to reports, the incident took place on June 20 at around 4 pm. Witnesses who saw the robot moments before the fall described its behavior as unusual, noting that it was circling in one spot as if something was there. The exact cause of the fall is still under investigation, with city council officials collecting the pieces of the shattered robot for analysis.
The robot, manufactured by Bear Robotics, a California-based company, had been appointed in August the previous year. Unlike other robots, it had the capability to navigate between floors and perform tasks like document deliveries, city promotions, and providing information to residents. The robot even had its own employee card and worked regular hours from 9 am to 4 pm.
The incident has sparked a discussion about the workload and the mental health of robot workers. Some netizens have speculated on the reasons behind the robot’s actions, with suggestions ranging from the need for unions for robot workers to highlighting the lack of breaks, vacations, and benefits for robotic employees.
This is not the first instance of a robot meeting a tragic end. In a previous incident in Washington, DC, a security robot named Steve reportedly ‘died by suicide’ by drowning in a fountain. However, further investigation revealed that it was an accidental fall caused by skidding on a loose surface.
As South Korea continues to lead the world in robot density, with one industrial robot for every ten human employees, this incident raises important questions about the integration of robots in various sectors. The city council has stated that there are currently no plans to replace the ‘demised’ Robot Supervisor, leaving a void in the technological workforce of Gumi City Council.
