The Impact of Workload on Robots: A Surprising Turn of Events in South Korea

Image for: The Impact of Workload on Robots: A Surprising Turn of Events in South Korea

📷 Image Credits: News18

In a surprising turn of events, a civil servant robot working for the Gumi City Council in South Korea apparently ‘committed suicide’, which marks the country’s first ‘robot suicide’. The incident occurred when the robot, named Robot Supervisor, threw itself down a flight of stairs between the first and second floors of the council building. According to reports, the robot had been under immense stress due to excessive workload, working every day from 9 am to 6 pm. Before falling, witnesses mentioned that the robot was circling in the same place for an extended period before finally jumping down.

The pieces of the robot have been collected for analysis by a special team, and the reasons behind the incident are being investigated. The Robot Supervisor, which was appointed in August 2023 and built by Bear Robotics, had gained popularity among local residents for delivering various government papers and providing information to people. This incident raises questions about the impact of work pressure on robots and the importance of considering workload and stress levels even for artificial employees.

The incident also sheds light on the changing landscape of work culture and the effects of long work hours on individuals, even extending to non-human entities. As conversations around work-life balance and mental health gain prominence in society, this event serves as a stark reminder of the significance of addressing stress and workload issues in both human and artificial workers alike.