Robot server goes berserk, astonishes restaurant patrons
Where is the off switch when you need it most?
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Where is the off switch when you need it most?
While we’re already in the process of training robots to do various manual tasks, it’s safe to say that there’s still progress to be made. Especially after a video showing a robot dancing out of control in a restaurant went viral.
The robot was filmed at a Haidilao hot pot restaurant in California, where it was entertaining guests by dancing, when it suddenly approached the table and banged on it, sending chopsticks and other food flying.
The robot continued to dance, with customers laughing in the background, while several servers tried to restrain it.
It took three servers some time to finally turn the robot off completely, with it freezing mid-dance.
Haidilao explained that the robot didn’t act this way because it was defective or uncontrollable. The restaurant told NBC News that the robot’s movements are preprogrammed and that it usually operates in larger spaces.
Since the restaurant was an enclosed space, it affected the robot's performance.
Haidilao, an international Chinese hot pot restaurant chain, opened its first “smart” restaurant in Beijing in 2018. The idea behind implementing robot chefs and servers, as well as automated kitchen systems, is to increase restaurant efficiency and reduce labor costs.
The restaurant chain partnered with Panasonic to develop these robotic systems, including mechanical arms, automated warehouses, and AI for food safety, inventory, and dish delivery.
The dancing robot in the video was used for entertainment purposes.
The video shared by a restaurant customer under the username @meooow on Rednote, a Chinese social media app, soon went viral.
@nbcnews Video shows restaurant employees struggling to restrain a dancing robot that went rogue in a hot pot restaurant in California.
♬ original sound - nbcnews
While the out-of-control robot seemed to entertain the customers, some users online also didn’t miss an opportunity to joke about the situation.
“The robot having 'I’m good' on his apron … when in fact he was NOT good,” wrote one user.
“I've been fired for less,” joked another netizen.
Many users also made fun of the talks about the possibility of robots taking over.
“And they want robots to take over?” wrote one TikTok user.
Nevertheless, some netizens were more concerned about the extensive use of AI and automation.
“I’m really tired of AI and computerized everything,” wrote one user.
“[I don’t know] why the people are laughing. I simultaneously feel bad for the robot and hate that it exists at all. All this AI crap and attempts at replacing people with robots is disgusting,” shared another.
Some sectors have already begun replacing workers with AI, including Amazon, which laid off 16,000 corporate employees in 2026.
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The rise of AI use has led to speculation about which professions will make the cut and which won’t. In the food industry, more restaurants, especially fast-food establishments, are automating processes to increase efficiency, cut costs, and address labor shortages.
Nevertheless, a human connection in such an industry is still very important, as customers also rate such places not only for food but also for the way they were served and the overall experience, notes Hyper, a company that specializes in solutions for the food service industry.
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