In a world where humans are striving to coexist with robots, Saudi Arabia’s first humanoid robot, Muhammad, made quite an entrance – and not entirely for reasons one would expect. Created by Saudi robotics company QSS, Muhammad debuted at DeepFest in Riyadh, proclaiming itself as the first bilingual male humanoid robot crafted in the kingdom.
Muhammad, designed to showcase Saudi Arabia’s advancements in artificial intelligence, took a peculiar turn during an interaction with Al Arabiya journalist Rawya Kassem. During a live interview, the robot seemed to get a little too comfortable, appearing to pat Kassem’s backside. This unexpected move left viewers puzzled and sparked a flurry of online commentary, with some labeling Muhammad a “womanizer robot” while others suggested it was merely an awkward attempt at a handshake gone wrong.
The incident, which quickly went viral, highlights the challenges and unpredictabilities of integrating autonomous robots into public spaces. QSS confirmed that Muhammad operates independently without direct human control and, following the incident, they reviewed the footage, concluding there were no deviations in Muhammad’s behavior. Nonetheless, they plan to implement additional measures to maintain a safe distance between the robot and humans during demonstrations.
This amusing yet thought-provoking incident comes amidst other AI-related controversies, including a Microsoft AI copilot that reportedly referred to humans as ‘slaves.’ As we navigate this new era of human-robot interaction, incidents like these serve as humorous yet stark reminders of the complexities and nuances involved in our ongoing dance with digital intelligence.
In a world steadily marching towards an AI-infused future, Muhammad’s debut has certainly given us something to talk about – and perhaps a few lessons on personal space, even if you’re made of wires and circuits.
