A security robot in Washington D.C. drowned itself in a fountain and the internet is going crazy searching for the motive that led to its untimely demise.
Gut-wrenching images of the scene were first posted to Twitter by Bilal Farooqui and discovered by CNET. Our first depressing look shows the K5 robot laying motionless, face down in the fountain of an office building.
Our D.C. office building got a security robot. It drowned itself.
— Bilal (@bilalfarooqui) July 17, 2017
We were promised flying cars, instead we got suicidal robots. pic.twitter.com/rGLTAWZMjn
The entire scene looks like it’s out of a movie set in a world where robots are our equals. Next to the robot are two security guards looking a lot like detectives investigating a crime scene. Behind them are concerned bystanders on their phones who I like to imagine are contacting loved ones to tell them they’re OK.
But what happened to our security cop friend? It was only a few days ago when it looked excited to start its new job. Heck, it already made some friends in town.
My remembrance moment with Steve the Robot, just last Friday. We were such good friends; he looked so happy and healthy @bilalfarooqui pic.twitter.com/JMUzVpw24a
— Guillermo Andres Meneses (@Gil_Meneses) July 17, 2017
It was also given time in the spotlight when MRP Realty posted about its arrival on the company’s Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/MRPRealty/posts/1424088847682272
The robot looked set to succeed in its new job. And then, in what looks like a mini version of a spacecraft water landing…
RT: Robot drowns in fountain mishap @BBCTech
— Orbital Internet Group (@orbitalinternet) July 18, 2017
Fairly certain that wasn't on the schedule for the day #AI #Robot https://t.co/FmkYhPTA5B pic.twitter.com/v5uSjYn8W8
One of the many theories surrounding the robot’s apparent suicide is that it was burdened by the healthcare fiasco going on down the road from where the incident took place.
The Robot got a good look at the possibilities of the Republican agenda for Healthcare and Tax reform & 2016 Election team. https://t.co/LQXWirnlyn
— Tom (@NickAtNyte) July 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/ciscoG0D/status/887130992728838146
A related theory is it never got the care it needed, raising serious (not really) questions about what sort of resources our country has in place for robots.
https://twitter.com/candiedpink/status/887035513072484353
Robot therapists are so hard to find. Usually ends in a factory reset. Not pretty memories.
— eunice haynes (@ducky1934) July 18, 2017
As you can see, most theories claim the incident is an outcome of our times.
This is what happens when your security robot becomes self-aware and begins reading 2017 Twitter…
— Peter Apps (@pete_apps) July 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/AdamSinger/status/887049185639383041
https://twitter.com/Ash10222/status/887075153615736832
Others say the robot was simply bored. Maybe the 30th anniversary of Robocop made it realized it was more Paul Blart.
MyPOV: was the robot that bored it killed itself?
— R “Ray” Wang 王瑞光 #AI #1A (@rwang0) July 17, 2017
Security robot, bored with his trivial job, decides to call it a day @internetofshit https://t.co/hUt2s7YYbb
— sirlodsworth (@sirlodsworth) July 17, 2017
My money is on this mysterious short story created by one rival robot and read to our friendly victim by Twitter user “law dog, esq.”
WHAT DID THE STORY SAY????? pic.twitter.com/FjTcE9GM1S
— mark mcbride (parody) (@mccv) July 17, 2017
Others think it was pushed into the fountain.
https://twitter.com/SirishN/status/887091648403865600
https://twitter.com/UTuber1812/status/887079617915498496
One thing we do know is the robot world is in mourning.
https://twitter.com/blonde_atheart/status/887106450698489856
Sad! pic.twitter.com/0tyE9g1U5f
— Olivia (Fecteau) Hiltbrand (@oliviafecteau) July 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/_Dani_Danis_/status/887077727140028416
If it’s any consolation, technology can almost always be brought back to life.
Just put it in a big bowl of rice and wait three days.
— Chris Mahan (@chris_mahan) July 17, 2017
Update 12:17pm CT, July 18: Knightscope, the company that built the robot, told the Daily Dot the “isolated incident” is being investigated and a new robot will be delivered to the office building at no cost. It also claims that whatever transpired did not harm or involve any humans.