Employees had to restrain a dancing humanoid robot after it went wild at a California restaurant

A dancing humanoid robot at a Haidilao hot pot restaurant in Cupertino, California, caused a commotion when it danced too close to a dining table, knocking over plates, dishware, and chopsticks. Video footage showed at least three employees struggling to restrain the robot as it flailed its arms, while another employee appeared to attempt controlling it via a phone app. The incident raised safety concerns, especially given the presence of hot pots with boiling broth, which could have caused burns if spilled. Haidilao responded by stating the robot was not malfunctioning or out of control but was brought closer to a guest’s table at their request, placing it in a limited space that affected its movements. The restaurant chain has previously experimented with robotic servers and broth mixers in Beijing. The incident highlights the challenges of integrating humanoid robots into food service environments, where startups like Pudu Robotics are exploring safer alternatives such as limb-free robotic servers. The event underscores the ongoing tension between technological innovation and