What is ‘Robot Suicide’?

July 6, 2024

In South Korea, this has never happened before a robotic government servant working for the Gumi City Council was found broken at the bottom of a flight of stairs. This event, which is now being called a “robot suicide,” took place in late 2023. The robot, named “Robot Supervisor,” was an important part of the council staff, just like the people who worked there. It even had a civil service ID and a 9-to-5 routine.

Role and Functions of the Robot

“Robot Supervisor” wasn’t just another piece of machinery; it was part of the Gumi City Council and had its ID card. It worked normal office hours, from 9 AM to 5 PM. The robot could go from one floor to another, use elevators, and help with jobs like delivering documents and promoting the city. Due to its high level of technology progress, these duties show that the robot can work very similarly to a human colleague.

Possible Causes and Investigation

Before it was found, there were reports that the robot was constantly going around the same spot, which could mean it was having problems or was in distress. The exact reason the robot went down the stairs is still being investigated. Still, some people think that the heavy task and operational demands may have caused a malfunction, which has been figuratively called “robot suicide.” Bear Robotics, the company that made the robot, has taken part in be analyzed to find out what happened.

Impact on Future Robot Deployment

The Gumi City Council has chosen to put off plans to add another robot to their staff because of what happened. This choice shows how carefully people are trying to figure out what will happen when robots are used in public service jobs and how to make sure they are safe and reliable. South Korea is known for slowly putting robots to work in many different areas, and it has a high number of industrial robots to workers. This event makes us think deeply about the moral and scientific effects of putting robots in jobs that humans usually do, as well as the safety rules and supervision that are needed as we move forward in this field.

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