Russia’s unveiling of its first AI-powered humanoid robot, named AIdol, at a Moscow technology event took an unexpected turn when the droid lost its balance and fell on stage, scattering parts as handlers rushed to conceal it from view and make repairs. The incident drew laughter from the audience, especially as the robot’s tumble coincided with the triumphant “Rocky” theme playing in the background.
Russia presented its human-like AI robot. It fell down as it walked onto the stage. pic.twitter.com/YAk7w2SsWV
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) November 11, 2025
different POV – broke apart when it fell 👇🥳 pic.twitter.com/MtNn0PH3YN
— Takeshi Kovacs (@PrzemekShura) November 11, 2025
The Russians unveiled their “competitor” to @Tesla_Optimus.
It didn’t go too well. It was like a robotic version hybrid of a drunk Kamala and a certain autopen president. pic.twitter.com/aUc7hduNml
— Chaya’s Clan (@ChayasClan) November 11, 2025
The incident, widely circulated by Russian and international media, highlighted both the ambition and current limitations of Russia’s robotics sector, which aspires to compete in the global AI humanoid race dominated by Western and Asian firms. AIdol, built by the Russian firm Idol under the leadership of CEO Vladimir Vitukhin, is designed to demonstrate the possibilities of embodied artificial intelligence: movement, object manipulation, and human-like interaction.
It features a silicone skin engineered to express more than a dozen basic emotions and hundreds of micro-expressions, powered by 19 servomotors. Developers emphasize its domestic content — 77% of its components are Russian-made, with a goal of reaching 93% — and robust hardware, including a 48-volt battery that offers up to six hours of continuous operation.
However, during its debut, a calibration error caused the fall, which Vitukhin described as a necessary learning experience in the robot’s ongoing test phase. The team addressed the mishap with optimism, expressing hope that such mistakes would drive future refinement of balance systems and control software.
Public response to AIdol’s tumble was swift and often satirical. The video went viral, with viewers — particularly Americans — mocking the incident with quips such as “Walks like Kamala Harris,” “Vodka powered,” and “Russia, where even the robots are drunk.”
While some commenters saw humor in the mishap, others saw it as an indicator of the challenges developers face as they transition humanoid robots from laboratory prototypes to robust real-world systems. Analysts point out that this blunder is reminiscent of previous embarrassing robot unveilings and serves as a reminder of ongoing hurdles — ensuring stability, safety, and reliability under public scrutiny remains an unresolved issue.
In contrast, the event highlights Tesla’s Optimus project, which is advancing rapidly in 2025. Tesla has begun construction of a dedicated factory for Optimus at its global headquarters in Texas, with plans to produce up to 10 million units per year by 2027. The third-generation Optimus robots are slated to launch in early 2026, promising major technological leaps: advanced human-like manipulation, autonomous learning from direct observation of humans (“sim2real” training), and broad application across industries and homes.
Tesla co-founder Elon Musk’s vision for Optimus is transformative — he expects mass deployment to revolutionize labor markets, eliminate poverty, and add trillions in economic value. Each Optimus unit, projected to cost around $20,000, is seen as a future staple in factories, healthcare, and society at large, with the robot able to mimic skills by watching humans or tutorials.
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