Our last story comes from South Korea, a country known for its high robot density—there is one robot for every 10 people. With so many robots around, forming emotional connections with machines has become normalized. However, a recent event has left the nation in shock: the first reported case of robot suicide.
In the city of Gomy, a robot working as a civil servant for the city hall was found in an unresponsive state, leading to an investigation. The incident, dubbed “South Korea’s first robot suicide,” has captured widespread media attention and prompted a national conversation.
According to reports, the robot was seen circling in one spot before throwing itself down a flight of stairs. It was discovered by officials, who have since launched a probe into the incident. Media outlets and social media users alike are questioning why the diligent civil servant ended its life, with many attributing the cause to overwork.
South Korea is known for its demanding work culture, with the average workweek around 40 hours, often exceeding 50 hours for many. Last year, a proposal for a 69-hour workweek sparked significant backlash. Given this context, it’s easy to draw parallels between the robot’s “death” and the country’s notorious overwork culture, even though the robot’s work schedule was a relatively standard 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The robot, appointed in 2023 as part of a pioneering program to advance robotic assistance, was praised for its diligence and ability to operate autonomously, including calling elevators and working on multiple floors. This emotional connection has led many to perceive the robot’s qualities as human-like, even in its demise, which is most likely due to a malfunction or coding error.
As bizarre as it sounds, the question arises: was the robot overworked? While this incident may be a malfunction, it highlights a broader trend of machines becoming more human-like, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). AI is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with capabilities such as detecting sarcasm and developing their own languages.
In 2017, Saudi Arabia granted legal personhood to a robot named Sophia, marking the first instance of robot citizenship. Sophia, now a marketing professional, underscores the complexities of personhood, even for machines.
As AI and robots become more integrated into our lives, they start to reflect more human-like behaviors and emotions. This incident in South Korea serves as a reminder of the growing intersection between human and machine, and the unique challenges it brings.