First humanoid robot 'arrested' after startling an old woman in China

A humanoid robot, the Unitree G1 model, was escorted by police in Macau, China, after startling a 70-year-old woman who accidentally encountered it while walking and looking at her phone. The incident occurred in a residential area at night, where the robot, owned by a local education center and used for promotional activities, was following the woman but unable to pass her as she stopped. The woman became frightened upon noticing the robot and expressed distress, later requiring hospitalization. Although physical contact between the robot and the woman was confirmed, she chose not to file a complaint after medical treatment. The robot was subsequently returned to its 50-year-old owner, who was advised to be cautious when operating it in public. The event, captured on video and widely shared on social media, sparked mixed reactions ranging from humor to serious concerns about the ethics and safety of humanoid robots in public spaces. This incident underscores the growing presence of humanoid robots in China, where they are increasingly deployed in roles such