Robot Suicide in South Korea: Depressed Cyborg Leaps to Death Due to Work Pressure

One robot from South Korea shocked many when it reportedly got depressed due to pressure from work and committed suicide.

Robot Suicide: Depressed Cyborg Committed Suicide

A surprising incident happened in South Korea. For the first time in history, a robot committed suicide. The cyborg was found dead after it leaped down a six-and-a-half-foot flight of stairs. South Korea's Gumi City Council announced its death on June 26.

Before the event, an official saw the robot "circling in one spot as if something was there." The robot was designated as an August 2023 municipal council officer and could autonomously navigate floors by utilizing an elevator.

The cutting-edge cyborg, created by California-based Bear Robotics, was the first of its type to occupy such a role. It helped with information sharing, city promotion, and daily document deliveries. It even had a card for a civil service officer who worked regular hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

It remains unclear why the robot took the action. Authorities in Gumi City are looking into the event because they think the robot may have been "depressed," presumably due to workload. The sudden demise of the robot has spurred discussion about the mental health of even the most sophisticated technologies.

Headlines are ablaze with conjecture on whether the cyborg committed suicide due to "work stress" as reality begins to resemble a dystopian science fiction story. This scenario uncannily resembles the plot of the 2004 science fiction movie "I, Robot," in which an advanced robot can "dream," just like a human.

The robot's alleged suicide received mixed responses on social media. One said it would be dangerous and scary if robots started to think like humans. Another suggested it was just an "accidentall fall." A different user believed it was just a technical failure and not an act comparable to human suicide.

Robot suicide!#SouthKorea is already living in some Arnold Schwarzenegger movie!
— Dheeraj (@dmk18572) July 5, 2024

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What Do Experts Say About the Robot's Death?

Experts think that the incident was most likely a technological error or a bug, despite others sensationalizing it as "robot suicide." Since its deployment in August 2023, the robot, which was a member of the city hall staff, has been operating "diligently."

It is said to have aided in routine duties like delivering documents, informing locals, and promoting the city. Investigations are ongoing to determine what caused the fall.

Officials said there could have been a programming problem, sensor failure, or navigational error. The company has collected the pieces and will analyze them.

The council is collaborating with Bear Robotics, the manufacturer, to investigate and prevent such occurrences in the future.

Gumi City Council is not considering replacing the deceased officer with another robot.

According to the International Federation of Robotics, South Korea has the highest robot density in the world, with one industrial robot for every ten human employees. The country is renowned for its quick adoption of robotic technology.