China robot attack on a boy mid-show, and HK's LegCo discussion on robot regulation

As robots become more popular, the Legislative Council discusses possible regulations on embodied intelligence tech in light of recent incidents of robot attacks on human.

An incident in Xinjiang details a robot martial arts show being staged at a scenic spot.

A boy was kicked in the abdomen by a humanoid robot mid-performance.

He could be seen bending down in pain.

The boy's parents later reported the matter to the police.

While the boy did not sustain serious injuries, the tourist attraction has been criticised for not apologizing for the incident.

Some commentators believe buffer zones should be set up during robot performances to prevent accidents.

In Hong Kong, the Legislative Council discusses the development of embodied intelligence technology.

Some lawmakers express concerns over tech application safety after an elderly woman was startled by a robot and subsequently hospitalised in Macao.

WONG KAM-FAI, Election Committee Sector Lawmaker (Voice of Translator): “Some citizens called the police after being startled by robots, it has aroused public concern about the safety of embodied intelligence technology. In this connection, will the government inform this council first whether it will draw on the regulatory approach under the small unmanned aircraft order to require developers of the embodied intelligence, to maintain records of algorithm decision making?”

SUN DONG, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry (Voice of Translator): “The government will closely monitor the development and application of such technologies, and will take decisive and appropriate action as necessary.”

Sun adds they need to analyse which areas should to be regulated and how security regulations should be set up for safety in human-computer interaction.