Dancing robot causes chaos at California restaurant and smashes plates in struggle with staff

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Okay, so I just saw this crazy video online! Apparently, there was a huge fight at a restaurant between the workers and one of their robots. It totally lost it and went a little ‘Terminator’ on everyone – it was wild! The video is going everywhere, and I can see why – it’s unbelievable!

As technology improves, robots are appearing in more places, but a recent experience at the Haidilao Chinese restaurant in San Jose showed they still have some problems to work through.

A video went viral on March 17th showing a robot at a restaurant malfunctioning and dancing uncontrollably, even knocking over some dishes.

To prevent the robot dancer from breaking any more dishes, staff attempted to shut it down, leading to a chaotic struggle between people and machine.

Restaurant staff restrain out of control dancing robot

In the video, a staff member attempted to move the robot by pulling on it, but it was too heavy for them to handle alone.

Then, two more employees got involved, while the first worker continued to scroll through her phone, apparently looking for a way to stop the robot.

The Straits Times reports that the restaurant chain is using robots to handle orders and bring food to customers.

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Haidilao is said to be part of a larger international group that’s investing in restaurants with robotic kitchens and automated food service.

Fortunately, three employees managed to shut down the robot before it caused further harm. It appears the robot was only programmed for dancing, so it wasn’t intended to be destructive.

Last year, the Chinese robotics company EngineAi introduced its T800 humanoid robot with a striking demonstration: it kicked its CEO across the room, showcasing the robot’s strength.

In February 2026, DroidUp, a Chinese robotics firm, unveiled a remarkably lifelike companion robot. This ‘fully biometric’ robot is designed to feel like a real person, with features mimicking body heat and having skin that feels dense to the touch. It’s expected to retail for approximately $173,000.

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2026-03-18 00:18