Macau woman hospitalised after being startled by humanoid robot on evening walk
A woman in Macau was briefly hospitalised after being startled by a humanoid robot during an evening walk. Police said she suffered no injuries and was discharged, choosing not to press charges.
BEIJING: A woman in Macau was briefly hospitalised after a humanoid robot startled her during an evening walk, leaving her feeling unwell, police told AFP on Wednesday.
According to police, they received a call for assistance regarding the woman, who "was startled when she suddenly noticed a robot behind her while using her mobile phone." The incident took place earlier this month.
Video shows woman confronting robot
Video footage widely shared on social media showed the woman angrily confronting the robot as it waved its metallic arms at her, while a crowd of curious onlookers gathered around the scene.
"With so many other things to do, why bother me? Are you crazy?"
The woman yelled at the unperturbed robot in Cantonese, gesturing agitatedly towards it.
No injuries or physical contact reported
Police said in a statement that the woman did not suffer any injuries and that there had been no physical contact between her and the robot. However, she still required hospital treatment following the encounter.
"She has since been discharged and has not pressed charges regarding the incident," the police statement said.
Robot escorted away by officers
Social media videos also showed officers leading the forlorn-looking robot away from the scene following the incident.
The unusual encounter between a pedestrian and a humanoid robot on the streets of Macau drew significant attention online, with the widely circulated videos capturing both the woman's startled reaction and the subsequent police response.
The incident highlights the growing presence of humanoid robots in public spaces and the unexpected interactions that can occur between humans and machines. While the woman was discharged from hospital and chose not to press charges, the episode underscored how such encounters can cause genuine distress to unsuspecting members of the public.
Police confirmed that the matter was resolved without further legal proceedings after the woman's discharge from hospital.
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