Service Robot Malfunctions at San Jose Haidilao

A malfunctioning service robot at a Haidilao hotpot restaurant in San Jose, California, disrupted diners on March 17 when it veered into erratic movements during a promotional dance routine, smashing plates and sending chopsticks flying before staff intervened to restrain it. The incident, captured on video and quickly spreading across social media, drew laughter from onlookers but also highlighted concerns over the reliability of automation in public dining spaces.

The robot, dressed in an orange apron emblazoned with "I'm OK," was performing as part of a tie-in event for Disney's Zootopia 2. Witnesses described the machine starting with coordinated arm waves and hip shakes to entertain customers. Suddenly, it slammed its hands on a table, scattering utensils and sauce onto nearby patrons. Undeterred, the robot continued its motions, including stamping its legs and waving its arms, even as three employees rushed to the scene. One staff member grabbed a handle at the back of the robot's neck while consulting her phone, likely searching for shutdown controls in an app. The others helped wrestle the device away, dodging its flailing limbs to avoid injury. No one was hurt, and...