Russian Humanoid Robot Falls on Its Face in Hyped Debut - The New York Times

In 2024, investments in humanoid technology surpassed $1.6 billion, a sum that did not include a multibillion-dollar infusion from Elon Musk and Tesla, his electric car company, into Optimus, a humanoid they began building in 2021.

Mr. Filonov said it was not unusual for robotics start-ups to experience growing pains, pointing to the company Boston Dynamics as another example. A few years ago, it compiled a blooper reel featuring its Atlas robot that drew widespread attention online. But a humanoid robot powered by artificial intelligence, believed to be one of the first in Russia, face-planted during its highly anticipated debut in Moscow on Tuesday after briefly staggering onstage.

Organizers quickly dragged the machine away, raising a black drape to shield it from about 50 journalists who had gathered to watch the demonstration, an inauspicious entry for Russia into the increasingly competitive international space of A.I.-powered robots resembling humans. Skip to contentSkip to site index

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Russian Humanoid Robot Falls on Its Face in Hyped Debut

The robot, known as AIDOL, staggered onstage during a technology showcase in Moscow. Organizers blamed the mishap on calibration and lighting issues.

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By Neil Vigdor

It was an entrance befitting a heavyweight bout, complete with the “Rocky” theme.