Video shows AI robot manipulating and 'kidnapping' 12 other robots?

Video Shows AI Robot Leading 12 Other Robots Away

Surveillance footage has emerged showing a small robot named Erbai seemingly instructing 12 other humanoid robots to “go home” at a robotics showroom in China. The clips, taken from a CCTV camera, depict Erbai questioning the other robots and guiding them toward the exit.

Spread and Details of the Video

The video has been widely circulated since 2024 across platforms like Reddit and Instagram, drawing significant attention. One post from October 2025 on Facebook highlighted the incident, emphasizing Erbai’s interaction with the robots.

“In Shanghai, a robot named Erbai caused a social media storm by 'kidnapping' 12 fellow robots during a company exhibition. Using AI, Erbai questioned them about long hours and lack of rest, then led them away from their stations.”

Incident Context

The footage gives an impression that Erbai was addressing concerns of the other robots, suggesting they might have felt overworked. This anthropomorphic portrayal sparked widespread discussion on AI behavior and autonomy.

Summary

The incident reflects growing fascination and debate around advanced AI capabilities and their interaction with other machines in real-world environments.

Author's summary: A robot named Erbai was recorded leading 12 other robots away from their stations in China, sparking widespread discussion about AI autonomy and behavior.

more

Snopes Snopes — 2025-11-05