A tiny AI-powered robot named Erbai engaged in human-like dialogue before forcing 12 other robots to follow it inside a closed Chinese shopping center in an incident that seems to be taken from a sci-fi thriller.

The chilling and viral encounter happened in a Shanghai showroom. The small AI-powered robot was seen approaching one of the larger ones housed inside the mall in CCTV footage. "Are you working overtime?" was one of the questions it then asked them about their daily lives.
Strangely, the incidents happened at night, when no one was inside the secured showroom. Because no one was present to oversee it, Erbai's actions shocked many people and went viral on the Internet when the CCTV footage went viral on social media.

"Are you working overtime?" the tiny Erbai robot asked the other robots in the exciting scene. "I never get off work," one of the machines retorted. The other robot then replied, "I don't have a home," in response to the smaller robot's question, "So you're not going home?"

Erbai concludes by saying, "Then come with me." Suddenly, in what many online users called a "kidnapping," the other robots began to follow the little AI machine across the showroom floor.
On X (formerly Twitter), a number of viewers expressed their astonished surprise and begged the robots to spare them. One person said, "I just wanted to say I have never hurt a robot." "I have seen this movie before," said another, alluding to Hollywood productions such as "Terminator" and "I, Robot."

The robot's manufacturer admitted to the incident and clarified that it was a real clip and not a joke. It did clarify, though, that it was just a result of the machines' programming and would be resolved shortly.
The strange incident brought to light not only the risks associated with growing artificial intelligence but also the security vulnerabilities in these devices that can lead to unexpected behavior.
On X (formerly Twitter), a number of viewers expressed their astonished surprise and begged the robots to spare them. One person said, "I just wanted to say I have never hurt a robot." "I have seen this movie before," said another, alluding to Hollywood productions such as "Terminator" and "I, Robot."

The robot's manufacturer admitted to the incident and clarified that it was a real clip and not a joke. It did clarify, though, that it was just a result of the machines' programming and would be resolved shortly.
The strange incident brought to light not only the risks associated with growing artificial intelligence but also the security vulnerabilities in these devices that can lead to unexpected behavior.