this post was submitted on 17 Oct 2026
58 points (96.8% liked)

TechTakes

2740 readers
114 users here now

Big brain tech dude got yet another clueless take over at HackerNews etc? Here's the place to vent. Orange site, VC foolishness, all welcome.

This is not debate club. Unless it’s amusing debate.

For actually-good tech, you want our NotAwfulTech community

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Make no mistake: these robots aren’t autonomous and everything they do is controlled by a human operator. Those hip thrusts and other gross gestures are pre-programmed moves, not something that’s happening spontaneously.

Nonetheless, the German police statement added an unnecessary air of mystery to who was responsible for these actions, saying that it’s now “investigating how the robot was operating at the time of the incident and whether someone was deliberately controlling its movements.”

This is unfortunately another example of how men looking for clout are using the latest gadgets to target women. Plenty of other livestreamers and Instagram “pick up artists” are using Meta smart glasses to film themselves harassing girls on the street and record them without their consent.

Remember when technology was about a vision of the future and not just a reflection of media illiterate, sexist and bigoted rightwing boys?

top 18 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Pratai@piefed.ca 1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Technology is nothing more than an amplification of who we are. So it’s foolish to think it’ll only ever be used for good. If it is to be used by everyone, sadly that is going to include depraved psychopaths like this.

Having said that-

Get ready for SO much worse because of the limp-dick cowards that won’t regulate it for shit because their spines have been replaced by cold hard cash.

[–] zogwarg@awful.systems 1 points 3 hours ago

That's too both too broad and too nihilistic, humans are perfectly capable of good, and/or of doing their job, specifically in this case not the police in Cologne (though in the spirit of fairness, maybe it will just take them a bit more—too much—time), and I think all the more why should be criticized (and the molesters, but that almost goes without saying).

[–] infinitesunrise@slrpnk.net 42 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Even if a robot is autonomous, a human is responsible for it's actions. Really needs to be a hard legal line. Anyone trying to tell you it's more complicated than that is ultimately doing apology for criminality.

[–] Munkisquisher@lemmy.nz 9 points 2 days ago

If someone brutalises someone else with a knife, you don't blame the knife

[–] regdog@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The thumbnail picture makes it look like the robot can detach its hands, like flying rocket fists.

[–] boobookittyfrick@lemmy.zip 1 points 7 hours ago

Unnnghhhh 🤤

[–] logana@lemmychan.org 2 points 2 days ago
[–] blackshirt@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (2 children)

We need another great flood.

[–] Pratai@piefed.ca 2 points 7 hours ago

We need another great asteroid.

[–] zout@fedia.io -4 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Do you realize we'd all die in the great flood?

[–] Soyweiser@awful.systems 5 points 2 days ago

Bro, some people can swim. Skill issue.

[–] Malica@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 days ago

I do! Bring it on.

[–] altphoto@lemmy.today -3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

What these guys need to be put in AI therapy.

By the way, Goggle and SpacSex are probably working on that AI + robot design right now for proper military purposes. Here is a snipet from NPR on the subjects matter:.

https://www.npr.org/2026/10/15/nx-s1-5991368/to-train-robots-ai-companies-are-paying-people-in-india-to-film-themselves-doing-chores

They gotta start by taking away all the jobs and leaving people homeless. They train in India but the target is maids in the developed world where they may be half the income of some households....but what about construction workers? Folding clothes is much more delicate than driving nails. Yeah, if they make folding clothes work, they will also do construction work, plumbing, mechanics, dental, medical, office, pig, firefighting, etc. That's all the income of most people's households. So hopefully the cage thing happens first.

[–] blakestacey@awful.systems 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

OK, rape as punishment is not a cool idea, nor is it a funny joke.

[–] altphoto@lemmy.today -5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Seriously. The whole future of everyone on earth is in danger and you focus on defending rich assholes who can use their daddy money on pervy robots....wait until they are bosses at AI.com or politicians with a slight orange cheto hue.

[–] blakestacey@awful.systems 5 points 1 day ago

Right then. Off you go.

[–] ebu@awful.systems 1 points 1 day ago

is it fair to call drumpflibs "scratched" if they were always so violently carceral to begin with

[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days ago

See, my first thought for pranks is variations on the disappearing twin or "spooky snowman" style costumes that are uncomfortable for people. This is just really lazy. "What if you were an unsafe person" is only funny if you don't directly involve the prankee.