Russia’s ambitions in artificial intelligence and robotics suffered a visible setback in Moscow when the country’s first AI-powered humanoid robot, ‘AIdol,’ tumbled onto the stage and scattered its parts during its official unveiling ceremony.
The human-shaped robot, developed by Russian engineers, lost its balance and fell face-first during its public demonstration at a technology event in Moscow on November 10th. The developers had introduced AIdol as a demonstration of an advanced humanoid built primarily from domestically sourced components.
Eyewitness accounts and video footage shared by independent Russian outlets show that as staff members were escorting the robot onto the stage—reportedly to the soundtrack of the Hollywood film Rocky—it lost its balance and fell, causing several of its components to break off and scatter across the stage.
Staff members immediately rushed forward to correct the malfunction, quickly pulling and concealing the damaged robot behind a screen to shield it from the audience.
Engineers are reportedly examining the robot’s balance system and control software. They acknowledged that the robot is currently still in the testing phase. The incident highlights the technical challenges inherent in developing advanced humanoid robotics and the high-stakes pressure of high-profile technological showcases.
