First humanoid robot ‘arrested’ after startling a 70-year-old woman in China

UNITED STATES, March 15 — A humanoid escorted by police X A humanoid robot was recently escorted by the police after scaring a 70-year-old woman in Macau, China. The old person was later hospitalized due to the experience. The incident occurred in Patane in a residential complex when the woman in question was walking down the street at 9 PM, the police revealed to a local broadcaster.

While looking at her phone during the walk, she ran into the robot, a Unitree G1 model, which was following her. The lady appeared frightened and startled upon discovering the robot standing beside her. “You’re making my heart race!

” she yelled at the robot, reported by the Macau Post . “You’ve got plenty to do, so what’s the point of messing around with this? Are you freaking crazy?

” A couple of passers-by witnessed the scene as the woman raged at the robot. The viral clip The First Humanoid Robot Arrested by Police🤖👮‍♀️ One night in Macau, a citizen was taking a walk with his humanoid robot (Unitree G1). A passing woman yelled at him (perhaps frightening her), essentially saying, "Why bother with this when there are so many other things to do?

… pic. twitter. com/moCBhsDeRW CyberRobo (@CyberRobooo) March 7, 2026 A clip showing the actual altercation between the 70-year-old and the Unitree G1 humanoid has gone viral on social media, garnering mixed reactions.

In the second scene, the robot is seen being escorted by the police personnel after the incident. One of the officers placed his hand on the robot’s shoulders, humanizing the experience. Reports suggest the robot was owned by an education center in Macau and used for “promotional activities” in the area.

Later, the robot was returned to its 50-year-old owner, who was reminded to exercise caution when using it in public spaces. A representative from the education center, Towin Mak, told local broadcaster Teledifusão de Macau (TDM) that the incident occurred as the robot was leaving the area. The robot halted in his path behind the woman as the latter stopped to check her phone.

Because he couldn’t get around her, he was waiting behind, Mak said. The woman was startled and frightened when she noticed the robot. The aftermath The lady experienced serious distress in the aftermath of the incident.

When the police reached the scene, she informed them that she was feeling unwell and was taken to a hospital. Post the medical checkup and treatment, she revealed she wouldn't be filing any complaint. The cops confirmed there was physical contact between the robot and the lady.

After the clip surfaced on social media, it garnered mixed reactions. Many Chinese netizens dismissed it as an unserious issue, while others joked that the robot had been ‘ arrested ‘ by the cops. Others, however, expressed concern about the use of robots in public, sparking a debate over their ethics and safety.

Humanoids are growing common in China While companies around the globe are already testing humanoids across various sectors, China appears to be a step ahead in democratizing their use in public spaces. As of November 2025, EngineAI’s T800 humanoid robot was spotted patrolling tourist areas in Shenzhen alongside human officers. The robot was guarding the “Window of the World” tourist district.

A few months ago , a humanoid named “Xiao Hu” was found directing traffic in Shanghai’s Huangpu district. As humanoid robots become increasingly visible in public spaces, the Macau incident highlights the unfamiliar encounters that may arise as humans and machines share everyday environments.