Robot commits suicide due to depression, South Korea starts probe

In an unusual incident, work pressure seems to have claimed an unexpected victim in South Korea: a robot. Yes, that’s correct.

On June 26, Gumi City Council revealed that their top administrative robot was found ‘dead’ after apparently falling down a six-and-a-half-foot staircase. The council is contemplating whether the robot’s demise was a case of ‘suicide’. According to Agence France-Presse, an official noted the robot “circling in one spot as if it detected something” before the incident.The robot, appointed as a city council officer in August 2023, could navigate floors independently by calling an elevator. This sophisticated cyborg, designed by California-based Bear Robotics, was the first of its kind to serve in such a role, handling document deliveries, city promotions, and information dissemination. It worked standard hours from 9 am to 6 pm and even had an official civil service officer card.The pressing question remains: what led to the robot’s fall? Gumi City officials have initiated an investigation into the incident, with some suggesting the robot might have been ‘depressed’. “Parts have been collected and will be analyzed by the manufacturer,” stated officials.

The robot’s sudden end has ignited discussions about the mental well-being of even the most advanced technologies. Currently, Gumi City Council is not planning to hire another robot to replace the deceased officer.

South Korea, renowned for its rapid integration of robotic technology, has the highest robot density globally, with one industrial robot for every ten human workers, according to the International Federation of Robotics.

As reality starts to echo a dystopian sci-fi narrative, speculation is rife about whether the robot succumbed to ‘work stress’. This incident draws parallels to the 2004 sci-fi film ‘I, Robot’, where an advanced robot exhibits the human-like ability to ‘dream’.