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A humanoid robot was filmed kneeling on a sidewalk, bowing to strangers, and asking them to cover its electricity costs. The $16,000 Unitree G1 humanoid robot was seen in China’s Sichuan province. It was essentially begging for money.
The stunt went viral across Chinese social media last week. It featured a donation plate, a QR code for digital payments, and an LED sign reading “no money to recharge.” The robots accepted digital payments through WeChat Pay and Alipay.
At the time of reporting, no one had claimed responsibility for placing the machine there. But some experts believe the stunt was just a viral tech demo.
Commenters split, China’s robot demos keep going sideways
Social media users turned the beggar robot into a punchline in no time. “Even beggars are being replaced by robots,” one commenter wrote. Others speculated the owner was sitting at home while the machine collected income on their behalf.
Not everyone found it amusing. Some questioned why anyone would donate to a machine when people in genuine need go without help. “If we can’t guarantee basic dignity for our own citizens, why would we treat artificial intelligence any better?” one user asked.
In Xinjiang earlier this year, a G1 robot performing a martial arts routine kicked a child in the stomach during a demo, sending the boy to the ground, as Cryptopolitan previously reported. The robot was remotely controlled at the time, and engineers said it was functioning “as intended.” At the moment, there’s no regulatory framework governing how close bystanders should stand to humanoid robots in China or most other countries.
A separate clip showed one of the machines attempting to dance to Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean before it lost its balance and collapsed on stage.
Wei Zhejia, chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, said during a speech in May that Chinese robots “jump around, bounce about” and are “just for show.” Industry analysts backed that assessment, saying that most Chinese humanoid robots are for entertainment and demonstration, and far from practical commercial use.
Cheap hardware, no safety net
China prioritizes the robotics industry because of an aging population and slowing economic growth, which have pushed policymakers to invest heavily in automation.
Unitree told local media earlier this year that it expects to ship between 10,000 and 20,000 units in 2026, according to Cryptopolitan reporting. The G1’s base price of $13,500 makes it one of the cheapest humanoid robots on the market, increasing the likelihood that these machines will appear at malls, schools, and public events.
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