Robot Waiter Goes Rogue, Sparks Chaos at California Restaurant

On March 17, 2026, a promotional event at a Haidilao hot pot restaurant in Cupertino, California, turned chaotic when a dancing humanoid robot malfunctioned. The robot, an AGIBOT X2 wearing an orange apron reading “I’m Good,” was performing a dance routine when it suddenly slammed its plastic fists on a customer’s table, sending chopsticks and sauce flying. The restaurant later clarified that a customer had asked for the robot to be brought closer than usual, and someone activated its “crazy dance” mode via a remote app, causing it to strike the table due to limited space. Staff rushed to deactivate it, but the robot continued its erratic movements—flapping its arms and stamping its legs—while an employee grabbed it by the neck collar and fumbled with a smartphone to shut it down. No one was injured, and the robot returned to greeting customers shortly after. The incident went viral, drawing both humor and concern over safety protocols, especially given the presence of boiling hot pot broth nearby.