Bengaluru, March 17: A promotional event at Haidilao Hotpot in San Jose, California, took a chaotic turn after a Disney-themed robot malfunctioned, knocking over tables and startling diners. The incident, captured on video and now widely circulating online, has raised fresh concerns about the safety of autonomous service robots in public spaces.

The robot was part of a collaboration with The Walt Disney Company to promote the animated film Zootopia. Dressed in an orange apron featuring the character Nick Wilde, the humanoid machine initially appeared to be performing a programmed routine. However, its movements soon became erratic, with the robot swinging its arms forcefully and sweeping plates, utensils, and table items onto the floor. China Robot Malfunctions: Chilling Video Shows Humanoid Robot ‘Waking Up’ and Attacking Human Handler.

Disney Robot Malfunctions at Haidilao Hotpot

Eyewitness videos show restaurant staff rushing to intervene, physically restraining the robot as it continued to behave unpredictably. The situation has drawn attention to the apparent lack of an immediate emergency shutdown mechanism, a key safety feature expected in such machines. Robot Malfunctions, Crushes Man to Death After Identifying Him As Vegetable Box in South Korea.

Although no injuries were reported, the intensity of the malfunction has sparked debate about the risks of deploying AI-powered robots in crowded, real-world environments, especially where families and children are present.

The viral clip has divided social media, with some users joking about the incident while others warn it highlights serious gaps in safety standards. Neither Disney nor Haidilao has issued an official statement so far.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 17, 2026 08:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).