Robots may be poised to replace thousands of workers in the future, but Michael Jackson impersonators seem to have no reason to worry yet.
A viral video has captured the moment a robot suffered a comical failure mid-performance while dancing to the beat of “Billie Jean.” The humanoid robot was performing in front of an audience and cameras at an event organized by robotics store Future Era in Shenzhen, China.
As the music played, the robot began to move rhythmically on stage, doing dance steps, but tripped on a staircase. After trying to maintain its balance, it managed to continue a few more movements, but then crashed again into the same spot and fell.
The audience remained silent for a few moments as a human assistant emerged from backstage and dragged the robot's lifeless body off stage.
The footage has sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with users making fun of the robot. Some compared it to a "drunk uncle dancing at a wedding," while one commenter on the X platform wrote: "No reaction from the public, just 'Billie Jean' as his lifeless body was dragged away in shame. Simply fantastic."
Another user humorously wrote: "Go home, robot, you're drunk," while someone else added: "Wow, the new Michael Jackson movie looks terrible." Another commenter said: "Finally we have the technology to imitate men over 40 at weddings."
However, some users focused on the assistant who removed the robot from the stage. According to them, he could have made it look like part of the performance.
“Whoever pulled it could have done it by dancing. Made it look like part of the show,” wrote one commenter. Another jokingly suggested: “The engineer could have done a moonwalk while pulling it back.”
Despite the mockery, some robotics enthusiasts were quick to point out that the performance was still technically impressive. One wrote that people were laughing at the robot but not appreciating the fact that it managed to stand up the first time it tripped.
"It's still incredibly impressive. Even good dancers can have falls like that," commented another user. Someone else added: "He was doing well before he fell. Poor guy just wanted to dance."
In the video, the robot and human assistant are seen wearing T-shirts that say “Future Era.” This is the name of a store in Shenzhen, one of China’s major technology hubs, home to giant companies like Tencent, Huawei, and DJI.
The Future Era store opened last year as the world's first commercial robotics store and features humanoid robots, including models like the Unitree G1, which is seen dancing on stage. To attract customers, the store often hosts performances featuring humanoid robots and robotic dogs.
According to the South China Morning Post, the store's robots can be rented for a day with prices ranging from 5 yuan, around £550, to 20 yuan, around £2,190. After ordering, customers can receive the robots in less than 10 days and can also request custom modifications.
As prices fall, humanoid robots are becoming more and more common in China, from promotional events for stores and restaurants to sports activities in schools. With an aging population and an economic slowdown after decades of rapid growth, robotics is being seen as an important pillar of the country's industrial strategy.
However, the growing proximity between robots and humans has also brought about some embarrassing incidents. At a sporting event in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a robot was filmed performing a martial arts routine. But when some children entered the field to join in, the robot fell over and began performing kung-fu kicks at the confused performers, who fled in dismay.
Another shocking video, filmed at a show in China's Shaanxi province on March 21, showed a Unitree robot punching a young boy in the face. During the routine, the robot came very close to the audience with wide arm movements and hit the child in the head while doing a spin.
The latest case in Shenzhen, although more comical than dangerous, shows that humanoid robots are advancing rapidly, but still have a way to go before they replace human dancers on stage. /GazetaExpress/
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