Saudi Arabia’s First ‘Male’ Humanoid Robot, Muhammad, Inappropriately Touches Female Reporter

A humanoid robot named 'Muhammad' was unveiled by the Saudi AI and robotics firm QSS in Riyadh. During a presentation at DeepFest, the robot, dressed in traditional Saudi attire, appeared to inappropriately touch a female reporter, Rawya Kassem from Al Arabiya.

Unveiling of Muhammad the Humanoid Robot

QSS debuted "Muhammad the Humanoid Robot" at DeepFest in Riyadh, describing it as the first Saudi robot in the form of a man and a national project highlighting Saudi Arabia's AI achievements. The robot can speak both Arabic and English and is fully autonomous, according to its makers.

Controversial Incident during Presentation

During the presentation, the viral video captured the moment when Muhammad extended a hand towards the female reporter's backside, prompting a stern reaction from Kassem. Despite the incident, the robotics firm stated that the robot was operating independently without direct human control and had not deviated from its expected behavior.

Response from QSS

QSS, in response to the incident, mentioned that they had proactively informed all attendees, including reporters, to maintain a safe distance from the robot during its demonstration. They reviewed the footage and circumstances surrounding the incident, ensuring that additional measures would be implemented to prevent such incidents in the future.

Future of Humanoid Robots in AI Industry

Humanoid robots are considered a significant development in the AI industry, with the potential to reach a market value of $13.8 billion by 2028, according to MarketsandMarkets. However, there are still challenges to overcome before these robots can replace human jobs.

Source: Business Insider

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By: jzitser@businessinsider.com (Joshua Zitser)
Title: Saudi Arabia’s First ‘Male’ Humanoid Robot, Muhammad, Inappropriately Touches Female Reporter
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/saudi-male-humanoid-robot-inappropriately-touched-female-reporter-video-shows-2024-3
Published Date: Mon, 11 Mar 2024 15:14:15 +0000