A robot named Joko Prabuwesi became an overnight internet sensation after CCTV footage appeared to show it going berserk on its first day at work, unleashing a series of kung fu kicks at its handlers in Jakarta, Indonesia. The clip, posted on 5 July, racked up over 129 million views online, with some social media users hailing it as hilarious genius while others claimed it had suffered a software glitch and turned violent.
Staged Performance for Marketing
However, the drama was entirely staged. Every move was pre-programmed to showcase the robot's agility, balance, and speed. No one was hurt, and colleagues were left laughing once the demo ended. Mera Robotics, the Indonesian firm behind the stunt, confirmed the sequence was deliberate entertainment, not a malfunction. The robot, a Unitree G1 model made in China with Polish software, is run by Indonesian handlers using Mera Robotics' platform, which creates social media stars out of robots for viral marketing.
On his official site, Joko later made light of the 'kung fu incident', saying the whole room burst out laughing and it inspired thousands of memes. He even apologised on Indonesian TV before dancing and performing more moves. Joko's team uses these stunts to highlight what the £25,000 machines can do. The robot, nicknamed 'Indonesia's bro', now tours Jakarta, meeting fans and appearing on TV. Similar machines from the same family have gone viral in Poland and Dubai.
Previous Incidents Raise Safety Concerns
The development comes after a remote-controlled 'clown' bot appeared to kick a young boy in the stomach during a Children's Day show at a packed botanical garden in China. A Unitree G1 humanoid robot dressed as a clown kicked the child due to a lack of safety barriers. The boy sustained no serious injuries, but the incident prompted a police complaint and intensified calls for stricter safety regulations for public robotics displays.
Footage showed the 70-pound machine carrying out martial arts-style moves in front of children and their parents. Wearing a bright blue clown wig, the droid jabbed at the air before launching into a dramatic 360-degree spin. As it completed the turn, it shot out a leg and appeared to land a roundhouse kick into the boy's stomach, causing him to double over in pain and collapse to the ground.
