During a recent public demonstration, Russia encountered difficulties as its first domestically created humanoid robot powered by artificial intelligence stumbled and fell, highlighting the challenges the country faces in the competitive field of AI and robotics against established leaders like the U.S. and China.
The robot, dubbed AIdol, made its debut at a tech event at the Yarovit Hall Congress Center in Moscow. Upon entering the stage to the tune of “Gonna Fly Now” from the movie Rocky, AIdol greeted the audience, but soon lost its balance, prompting event staff to swiftly remove it from view. The CEO of Moscow-based startup Idol, Vladimir Vitukhin, attributed the mishap to calibration issues possibly caused by lighting affecting the robot’s stereo cameras.
Vitukhin viewed this incident as a learning opportunity, expressing that mistakes are valuable lessons. After being brought back onstage with assistance from handlers, AIdol managed to stay upright, with Vitukhin confirming that the fall did not cause any damage to the robot.
AIdol is engineered for walking, object manipulation, and human interaction. Capable of operating autonomously for up to six hours, AIdol’s face can convey various emotions through its flexible silicone skin. The company reports that all of AIdol’s functions operate offline.
Despite facing sanctions limiting access to advanced technology due to its actions in Ukraine, Russia aims to increase domestic components in AIdol to 93% during mass production. The Russian robotics industry has faced setbacks post-sanctions with shortages of components and talent loss.
The debut misstep underscores Russia’s lag behind global competitors like Boston Dynamics’ agile Atlas robot and advancements made by Chinese manufacturers in humanoid robots. Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized AI and robotics as crucial for national security and global influence. Putin’s vision is for Russia to lead in AI while promoting international collaboration.
AIdol is projected for use in manufacturing, logistics, banks, airports, and other areas. However, details regarding the specific AI system driving AIdol or a timeline for mass production have not been disclosed by Idol developers.
Originally published on Fortune.com.