At the recent World Robot Conference in Beijing, an astonishing revelation has caused quite a stir: some of the lifelike “humanoid robots” on display were actually human women in elaborate cosplay costumes. 😲🤖
🤔 The Humanoid Hoax 🎭
The buzz began when footage of these seemingly advanced robots began circulating on social media. However, the illusion was shattered when an image surfaced showing one of the “robots” enjoying a meal at the event. It turns out that these were not cutting-edge robotics but rather cosplaying humans hired by the animatronics company Ex-Robots. “Many people think these are all robots without realizing they’re actually two human beings cosplayed as robots among the animatronics,” tweeted reporter Byron Wan. 🍴🤯
🎭 Fooling the Crowd 🎬
This isn’t the first time human actors have been mistaken for robots. Back in 2022, Tesla faced criticism for its “Optimus robot,” which turned out to be a dancer in a spandex suit. Despite these past blunders, Ex-Robots’ human cosplayers were convincing enough to mislead many attendees. One social media user even declared them as “straight out of sci-fi,” prompting community notes to clarify the deception. 📉🤖
During the World Robot Conference 2024 in Beijing from Aug 21 – Aug 25, 🇨🇳 animatronics company EX-Robot (or EX Robots as reported by some news media) hired 2 women cosplayed as robots to spice up the exhibition.
— Byron Wan (@Byron_Wan) August 26, 2024
Hmmm… two human beings mimicked the movements of robots that… pic.twitter.com/hRGxgfe4mD
🤖 Real Robots in the Mix 🤯
Despite the cosplay controversy, Ex-Robots is indeed working on actual humanoid robots. Their creations, albeit less convincing, are designed to express emotions and interact with their environment. “The model we’re making is multi-modal and capable of emotional expression,” Ex-Robots CEO Li Boyang stated in a June report by Reuters. 🛠️📹
🎤 Why the Human Trickery? 🤔
The choice to use human cosplayers at the conference remains puzzling. Were they hired merely for promotional purposes, or was there an intent to mislead? Given the mixed reactions on social media, it could be a blend of both—old-fashioned booth babes mixed with a hint of high-tech illusion. 🎭💬
Curious about the latest in robotics and tech? Stay tuned for more updates and insider info! 🌐🔍
openseen