A video from a recent technology festival, DeepFest, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has gone viral, raising concerns about the behavior of artificial intelligence. The footage is of the unveiling of Saudi Arabia’s first male humanoid robot ‘ Muhammad’. In the 7-second video of the incident that has gone viral, the reporter Rawya Kassem, is seen talking about a robot who extends his hand toward her back, seemingly touching her.It appears that Kassem had to raise her hand momentarily to back it off.

The robot’s actions have sparked a debate. QSS Systems, the developers of Muhammad, claims that the robot operates autonomously. The company said that the robot’s behavior was within normal parameters, but will take steps to prevent people getting too close during demonstrations. “We have already conducted a thorough review of the footage and the circumstances surrounding the incident and there was no deviations from the expected behavior of Muhammad, however, we will take additional measures to prevent anyone getting close to the Robot within its areas of movement,” said QSS to Metro UK.
Social media users expressed mixed reactions. Some criticized the robot’s actions, while others defended it, suggesting a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of social cues. There’s speculation the robot might have been attempting a handshake or may be telling the reporter to keep a distance, and that the reporter’s proximity caused the awkward contact.
Safety and Responsibility in Focus
DeepFest organizers have stressed the importance of maintaining a safe distance from robots during demonstrations, highlighting their commitment to attendee safety. The robot Muhammad is male counterpart to Sara. “I am Muhammad, the first Saudi robot in the form of a man. It was manufactured and developed here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a national project to demonstrate our achievements in the field of artificial intelligence,” is how Muhammad introduced himself at the event.
According to QSS Systems, the robot can carry out tasks that require high precision or work in conditions that may pose a danger to humans.