Did a robot really die by ‘suicide’ in South Korea? Expert investigation

A robot employed by the Gumi City Council in South Korea died after falling down a flight of stairs. Although some have sensationalized the event as a “robot suicide,” experts believe it is more likely a technical malfunction or glitch. The robot was part of the city hall’s staff and had been working “diligently” since August 2023, said one of his co-workers. He helped with daily tasks such as delivering documents, providing information to residents and promoting the city.

Before the crash, eyewitnesses reported unusual behavior, with the robot circling a seemingly confusing location “as if something was there.” The incident occurred on June 27th at approximately 4pm, with the ‘Robot Supervisor’ found damaged and lying in the stairwell between the first and second floors of the council building.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Authorities believe it may have been due to a navigation error, sensor failure or programming error. An employee of the City Council mentioned that the “robot parts have been collected and will be analyzed by the company”.

The robot was the first of its kind to have such a function in the city. Developed by Bear Robotics, a California-based startup, it was designed to work autonomously, navigating between floors using the elevator. Unlike other robots, which are typically limited to a single floor, this robot had the ability to move freely, making it a unique asset to the Gumi City Council. The robot worked from 9am to 6pm and even received its own civil servant card, just like a human employee.

The manufacturer, Bear Robotics, is working with the council to investigate and prevent similar incidents in the future.

South Korea has consistently demonstrated a strong affinity for robotics, leading the global adoption of automation technology. With a remarkable ratio of one industrial robot for every 10 employees, the country has the highest density of robots in the world, according to reports.

However, following the recent robot incident at Gumi Town Hall, the municipality has decided to temporarily suspend its plans to introduce a second robot officer.