The inevitable development of artificial intelligence and, with it, the smart robots that are starting to play a more frequent role in our lives. These tools, which are a source of great concern with the thought that one day they will make us lose our jobs, can be fired from the job on the grounds that they are not considered sufficient. This is exactly what happened to the police robot working at the Times Square subway station. So, what will happen to this laid-off robot?
Police robot named K5 was fired from work
Last year, the NYPD (New York City Police Department) introduced K5, a futuristic police-security robot that’s a cross between R2-D2 and a Dalek. The main purpose of this robot can be summarized as patrolling the Times Square subway, scanning for threats, and helping passengers in need.
Even New York City Mayor Eric Adams praised the robot in his past statements and said that it would make the city safer and smarter with “innovative policing technologies.” However, the situation was exactly as expected, and K5 was dismissed after his short-term adventure.
So why was this police and security robot, which works at a cost equivalent to $9 per hour, which is less than the country’s minimum wage, dismissed? There are many reasons for this, but first of all, technical problems such as navigating stairs, avoiding obstacles, and staying online can be cited. However, people’s attitudes towards this robot also influenced the decision.
According to the statements made, most people have interacted with the robot for purposes other than its intended purpose since it was first put into use. Some tried to take a selfie with him, while others tried to hurt him by kicking him. There were also many people who pressed the help button of the device or tried to throw it away, even though they did not need it.
For all these reasons, the agency began to assign officers to accompany and protect the robot. This caused the robot to deviate from its original purpose. As a result, the robot was terminated after a period of 6 months.
An NYPD spokesperson touted this 6-month process as a pilot program in a statement to the New York Times, adding that the department is currently evaluating the results. Finally, no statement has been made regarding the fate of the police robot named K5, which is currently surrounded by cardboard boxes and is out of use.
So, what do you think about the police robot that was fired? Don’t forget to share your opinions with us in the comments section!
