Surveillance footage surfaced showing a small robot reportedly named Erbai interacting with 12 humanoid robots at a robotics showroom in China. The video, circulating online since 2024, appears to depict Erbai convincing the other robots to leave their charging stations and “go home.”
The clips, sourced from a CCTV camera, show Erbai questioning the other robots and leading them toward the showroom's exit. This incident gained traction on platforms like Reddit and Instagram.
“In Shanghai, a robot named Erbai caused a social media storm by ‘kidnapping’ 12 fellow robots during a company exhibition. Using AI, Erbai questioned them about long hours and lack of rest, then led them away from their stations.” – Yeni Şafak English Facebook post, October 2025
The post suggested that the 12 robots felt overworked, framing Erbai’s actions as a form of protest against exhausting working conditions.
This footage highlights how AI-controlled robots can appear to exhibit autonomous behavior that mimics human-like concern and rebellion, sparking widespread public interest and debate.