In 2018, dog-looking robots are learning new tricks—and they’re freaking people out.
Robotics company Boston Dynamics posted on Monday a video of its SpotMini—a so-called quadruped robot with four limbs to walk on and an arm with a clamp atop—extending a “hand” to turn a handle and open a door. The SpotMini then politely holds the door for another robot to walk through.
Naturally, people are terrified.
This is one of the most terrifying things I’ve seen in all my life pic.twitter.com/Yp9xlhdKC9
— Alan White (@aljwhite) February 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/ericcalaluca/status/963161512553668613
It’s easy to think of all the worst-case scenarios, especially in light of every robot thriller film ever.
https://twitter.com/timmysamuel/status/963154291287408640
The robots reminded people of some certain CGI dinosaurs.
https://twitter.com/1seanie/status/963160021172355072
And plenty of people couldn’t help but think of Black Mirror season 4’s episode “Metalhead,” which features terrifying killer robot “dogs.”
https://twitter.com/TheSleepyRebel/status/963208564440526848
Ugh. Only a matter of time before we’re living through Black Mirror’s “Metalhead” episode. pic.twitter.com/fSVyHTWAXO
— Jake Godin (@JakeGodin) February 12, 2018
I’ve seen Black Mirror pic.twitter.com/RBXVXSHogd
— Derek Kudjer (@koojababy) February 12, 2018
The similarities aren’t arbitrary. Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker has said the robot dogs in “Metalhead” were partly inspired by Boston Dynamics YouTube videos. Here’s an older video featuring another SpotMini.
What could possibly go wrong, Scronfinkle? pic.twitter.com/Gz9YkFYKVN
— John Hamill (@JHamillHimself) February 12, 2018
But horrifying apocalypse foreshadowing aside, people on Twitter had plenty of jokes about the real-life robots.
https://twitter.com/chrashez/status/963166238892584960
Even “bare minimum Twitter,” thrilled with the robot’s chivalry, made an appearance.
https://twitter.com/alxxkxlly/status/963182313831059457
And for anyone that’s not so jazzed on the idea of a door-holding robot, the good news is that the older version of the technology still works just fine.
Don’t worry guys, I got this pic.twitter.com/RLXpM4VpZp
— Fint 🇮🇪 (@FintanC84) February 12, 2018
