A “completely autonomous” AI robot has sparked controversy for allegedly touching a journalist inappropriately during an interview at a technology festival in Saudi Arabia.
Rawya Kassem, the journalist, was addressing the robot named Mohammad when it appeared to make a gesture towards her backside, as seen in a video circulating on social media.
Startled by the robot’s action, Kassem swiftly distanced herself from Mohammad, signaling it to stop before resuming her presentation at DeepFest, an AI event held in Riyadh.
The robotics company behind Mohammad, QSS, emphasized that the robot functions autonomously without direct human intervention. Despite the incident, QSS stated that there were no unexpected behaviors from Mohammad in the reviewed footage and circumstances. However, they pledged to implement additional measures to prevent unauthorized proximity to the robot within its operational area.
Mohammad’s primary purpose is to assist in hazardous environments and enhance human safety. Some observers speculated that the robot’s gesture towards Kassem may have been a prompt for her to move closer, rather than an inappropriate action.
QSS underscored its commitment to safety and reminded event attendees to maintain a safe distance from the robot during its demonstrations.
On social media, various users debated the robot’s intentions. While one user criticized it as being “programmed to behave inappropriately,” another labeled it a “womanizer robot.” A different perspective suggested that Mohammad intended to shake Kassem’s hand after she mentioned its name, implying a misunderstanding rather than malicious intent.
Mohammad, developed in Saudi Arabia, is bilingual and serves as a symbol of the country’s dedication to technological progress and innovation, as highlighted by DeepFest.
The creation of Mohammad reflects Saudi Arabia’s technological advancement and inventive spirit, setting an example for future generations in the realm of innovation.
