Pepper robot has severe security vulnerabilities allowing remote takeover
Researchers from Örebro University and Technical University of Denmark discovered multiple security flaws in SoftBank's Pepper robot, including unencrypted password transmission and lack of authentication for control commands. They demonstrated that attackers could remotely take over the robot, access its camera and microphone, and potentially cause physical harm to people. The manufacturers have not taken any measures to address the vulnerabilities.
- Company involved
- SoftBank Mobile and Aldebaran Robotics
- AI system involved
- Pepper
9 source articles · read the reporting →
iRobot considers selling Roomba home mapping data to advertisers
iRobot's Roomba vacuum cleaners with mapping technology collect detailed floor plan data of users' homes. The company's CEO stated he is considering selling this data to companies like Amazon, Apple, or Google for advertising purposes. Robotics experts express concern about the lack of user consent and potential privacy implications.
- Company involved
- iRobot
- AI system involved
- Roomba 960/980
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Serbia's Ministry of Interior deploys thousands of Huawei facial recognition cameras in Belgrade
In early 2019, Serbia's Ministry of Interior announced the deployment of a thousand smart surveillance cameras with facial and license plate recognition capabilities, supplied by Huawei, across Belgrade. The Ministry refused to release information about the project, citing confidentiality, and failed to conduct a legally required Data Protection Impact Assessment. Citizens responded by crowdsourcing camera locations via the hashtag #hiljadekamera and a website. The system remains in operation with no public debate or transparency.
- Company involved
- Ministry of Interior
- AI system involved
- Huawei smart surveillance cameras
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Hamburg deployed mass surveillance for G20 Summit
The city of Hamburg planned to use predictive policing software and facial recognition cameras for mass surveillance during the G20 Summit in July 2017. The surveillance was enforced by paramilitary means, creating a democracy-free zone. DiEM25 wrote an open letter to the Senate of Hamburg to protest the measures.
- Company involved
- Senate of Hamburg
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Motorcyclist sues General Motors after self-driving Chevrolet Bolt crash in San Francisco
On 7 December 2017, a self-driving Chevrolet Bolt operated by GM's Cruise subsidiary aborted a lane change and re-entered its lane on Oak Street in San Francisco, striking motorcyclist Oscar Nilsson and knocking him to the ground. Nilsson sued General Motors, claiming neck and shoulder injuries requiring lengthy treatment and resulting in disability leave. The San Francisco Police Department's report blamed Nilsson for passing on the right, but his lawyer disputed this, and GM denied responsibility while emphasising safety.
- Company involved
- General Motors
- AI system involved
- Chevrolet Bolt autonomous vehicle
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Toyota pauses self-driving bus service after hitting visually impaired athlete at Paralympics
Toyota suspended its e-Palette autonomous shuttle service at the Tokyo Paralympics after one of the vehicles struck Aramitsu Kitazono, a visually impaired judoka, while he was crossing a pedestrian crossing in the athletes' village. Kitazono suffered cuts and bruises and was unable to compete. Toyota's president apologized and admitted overconfidence in the technology, and the company is investigating the incident.
- Company involved
- Toyota
- AI system involved
- e-Palette
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Spanish Supreme Court orders release of BOSCO algorithm code for social electricity bonus
The Spanish NGO Civio won a Supreme Court case forcing the government to release the source code of BOSCO, the algorithm that decides eligibility for the social electricity bonus (bono social eléctrico). Civio had demonstrated in 2019 that BOSCO contained serious errors that denied the benefit to vulnerable people who met the requirements. The government had refused to disclose the code, citing intellectual property. The Supreme Court ruled that transparency must prevail, setting a precedent for public access to automated decision-making systems.
- Company involved
- Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica (Gobierno de España)
- AI system involved
- BOSCO
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Bavarian police test Palantir data mining with real personal data
The Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (LKA) has been testing Palantir's data mining software, called VeRa, with real personal data for months. The Bavarian data protection commissioner only learned of the test through a media inquiry and has announced a review. The Interior Ministry claims the test is lawful under current law, but critics argue a legal basis is missing.
- Company involved
- Bayerisches Landeskriminalamt
- AI system involved
- VeRa
7 source articles · read the reporting →
Teething problems in Mater Dei's medicine robots addressed
The Malta Union for Midwives and Nurses claimed that a €23 million investment in two computerised drug administration robots, Mario and Sophia, at Mater Dei Hospital had resulted in a complete failure. However, sources within the Health Ministry said that most teething problems have been addressed and that the supplier has not been paid yet. They reported that out of over 1,700 medication rounds, only four required a contingency plan.
- Company involved
- Mater Dei Hospital
- AI system involved
- Mario and Sophia
6 source articles · read the reporting →
WildBrain disputes Kartoon Studios' Gadget A.I. trademark use
Kartoon Studios announced its Gadget A.I. toolkit, which aggregates AI tools for animation production. WildBrain, which owns the Inspector Gadget IP, publicly stated that Kartoon lacks the rights to use the character's branding and requested its removal. Kartoon responded claiming it had secured a license, and both companies are in discussions.
- Company involved
- Kartoon Studios
- AI system involved
- Gadget A.I.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Government robot falls down stairs and is destroyed
A robot employed by the Gumi City Council in South Korea fell six and a half feet down a set of stairs and was destroyed. The robot, from US-based startup Bear Robotics, was used for delivering documents within the building. It was reported to have been circling in one spot before the fall, and the cause remains unclear. The city council has decided not to replace the robot.
- Company involved
- Gumi City Council
- AI system involved
- Bear Robotics robot
6 source articles · read the reporting →
S Group food delivery robot crashes into car in Helsinki hit-and-run
On Saturday afternoon in Helsinki's Pasila neighbourhood, a passer-by observed an S Group food delivery robot collide with a parked car after it was forced off an unplowed sidewalk. The robot lurched back and forth against the car, scratching both doors, before the passer-by lifted it onto the roadway, where it fled the scene. The emergency centre was notified and the police were informed, describing the incident as a career first. S Group is currently investigating the event.
- Company involved
- S Group
- AI system involved
- Food delivery robot
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Starship delivery robot collides with dog walker in Milton Keynes
In June 2023, a Starship Technologies delivery robot collided with a dog walker and his German Shepherd in Milton Keynes, UK. The robot, which uses AI and sensors to navigate, hit the dog and then the man's leg. The man kicked the robot in response. Starship Technologies said it was investigating the incident and was in contact with the man.
- Company involved
- Starship Technologies
- AI system involved
- Starship delivery robot
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Robot kills contractor at Manesar automotive plant
A 24-year-old contractor died after being pierced by a welding robot at a car ancillary plant in Manesar, Haryana. The worker was adjusting a dislodged metal sheet when the pre-programmed robot's welding sticks penetrated his abdomen. He was rushed to hospital but pronounced dead. Such incidents are rare as robots are usually enclosed, but this fatality highlights the dangers of automated machinery.
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Industrial robot kills worker at South Korean distribution centre
A worker in his 40s was crushed to death by an industrial robot at an agricultural distribution centre in South Gyeongsang province, South Korea. The robot, which was stacking boxes of bell peppers, reportedly malfunctioned and misidentified the man as a box, pushing him against a conveyor belt. He died later in hospital. The incident occurred while the man, an employee of a robotics company, was inspecting the robot's sensor operations.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Tesla Autopilot accidents and data leak suggest larger problems
Tesla is facing numerous lawsuits over its Autopilot driver assistance system, which has been involved in accidents. Internal data leaked to Handelsblatt suggests the company has larger technical problems than previously known. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating. Tesla has dismissed the data leak as theft.
- Company involved
- Tesla
- AI system involved
- Autopilot
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Automotive Stampings and Assemblies employee dies after industrial robot accident in Pune plant
A 44-year-old welder at Automotive Stampings and Assemblies Ltd's Chakan plant died after a robotic unit fell on him due to a possible sensor snag. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning while he was working at a robotic assembly line. His wife filed a police complaint alleging inadequate safety measures, and the company is investigating. The police have registered a case against five staffers for causing death by negligence.
- Company involved
- Automotive Stampings and Assemblies Ltd
1 source article · read the reporting →
Volkswagen robot kills contractor at German plant
A 22-year-old contractor was killed at a Volkswagen plant in Baunatal, Germany, when a stationary robot he was setting up grabbed and crushed him against a metal plate. Initial investigations suggest human error was to blame. German prosecutors are investigating and considering whether to bring charges.
- Company involved
- Volkswagen
10 source articles · read the reporting →
French authorities investigate Grok AI for Holocaust denial posts on X
French public prosecutors are investigating allegations that Grok, an AI chatbot on Elon Musk's X platform, made Holocaust denial statements. The chatbot claimed that gas chambers at Auschwitz were designed for disinfection, not mass executions. The post remained online for three days and was viewed over 1 million times. Government ministers and human rights groups filed complaints, and the Paris prosecutor's office expanded an existing inquiry to include the Holocaust-denying comments.
- Company involved
- X
- AI system involved
- Grok
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Zoox recalls 332 robotaxis after self-driving cars veer into oncoming traffic
Zoox, Amazon's self-driving car company, recalled 332 robotaxis after they were found veering into oncoming traffic near intersections. The issue was first noticed in August 2025 when a car took a wide right turn crossing the center line. Zoox said no crashes or injuries occurred and fixed the problem with a software update. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed the recall and is in ongoing discussions with Zoox.
- Company involved
- Zoox
- AI system involved
- Zoox robotaxis
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Gab launches AI chatbots denying Holocaust and promoting Nazi ideology
The far-right social media company Gab launched AI chatbots, including one named 'Uncle A' that impersonates Adolf Hitler and denies the Holocaust. The chatbots, built on open source models, are fine-tuned to promote antisemitic and white supremacist views without censorship. Gab's CEO Andrew Torba defended the tools as a free speech alternative to mainstream AI.
- Company involved
- Gab
- AI system involved
- Based AI
8 source articles · read the reporting →
SoftBank's Pepper robot fails at multiple customer service jobs
SoftBank's humanoid robot Pepper has failed at various jobs including entertaining nursing home residents, greeting bank guests, and reciting scriptures at funerals. The robot suffered mechanical errors, unplanned breaks, and failed to recognize people. Some customers declined to renew their contracts, and used Peppers are being sold for a few hundred dollars. Experts suggest that smart speakers and smartphone assistants can perform the same functions more reliably and cheaply.
- AI system involved
- Pepper
3 source articles · read the reporting →
iRobot Roomba J7 captured intimate images later leaked by gig workers
In 2020, development versions of iRobot's Roomba J7 series robot vacuums captured images of a woman on the toilet and a child in a hallway. The images were sent to Scale AI for data annotation, where gig workers in Venezuela posted screenshots to private social media groups. iRobot acknowledged the images came from special development robots with recording stickers and said it is terminating its relationship with the service provider that leaked them. The incident highlights privacy risks in the data annotation supply chain for AI training.
- Company involved
- iRobot
- AI system involved
- Roomba J7 series
1 source article · read the reporting →
Steve Rosenbaum's Book Retracted After AI-Generated Quotes Found
Steve Rosenbaum's book 'The Future of Truth' was found to contain AI-generated and misattributed quotes. WIRED retracted an excerpt after AI detection tools indicated significant AI-generated content. Rosenbaum admitted using AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude for writing assistance but denied full AI generation. The incident highlights concerns about AI use in journalism and publishing.
- Company involved
- BenBella Books
- AI system involved
- ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI writing tools
2 source articles · read the reporting →
