By Alec Fernandes
A video circulating online shows a humanoid robot begging for money on a Chinese city street. In the clip, the AI automaton kneels beside a bowl and a QR code, asking passersbys to help pay its electricity bill. One onlooker even tosses a coin into the dish. While the imagery feels dystopian, some tech reporters claim the footage is intentionally performative.
Regardless of the stunt's intended message, the "robot beggar" image captures an unsettling truth: the AI revolution is spreading into roles and social spaces once thought to be uniquely human. The scene also underscores China's dominance in the race to develop humanoid robotics, as the country is the world's most aggressive market for this technology. The Associated Press reports China currently has more than 140 humanoid robot manufacturers offering more than 330 different models, with thousands of units shipped last year.
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