A humanoid robot named Syoma "woke up with a twist" and became the star of one of the week's most discussed videos after kicking a customer who pushed it in an electronics store in Saratov, Russia.
The incident, captured by the security cameras of Volga Store 64, has garnered over nine million views on Instagram and has sparked a heated debate on social media regarding whether or not it is an expected reaction from a robot.
The images show a man dressed in black approaching Syoma, attempting to greet him with a handshake, and when he receives no response, he pushes him. The robot, which served as a technology consultant in the establishment, immediately reacts by entering a fighting stance and kicking towards the customer. The store staff intervenes and shuts it down.
The robot refused to greet, couldn't tolerate the push, and reacted in its own way, regardless of the consequences. The store itself shared the video with a tone that was both alarmist and humorous.
"The technology consultant Syoma got out of control and attempted to attack a buyer. What was the cause? For now, it remains a mystery. Luckily, everyone is okay! Syoma is going through an emotional reboot, and the buyer left with just a minor scare and possibly a new iPhone."
As of the time this news was published, the store has not confirmed whether the incident was caused by a robot malfunction, if it was remotely controlled, or if it is all part of a sales campaign by the store to attract attention on social media.
The rebellion of the machines, according to social media
Reactions on social media came quickly, swinging between laughter and concern. "The Skynet project was approved," wrote a user, directly referencing the Terminator saga.
Others came to the android's defense: "The customer pushed him and he was just defending himself." There were also those who encouraged the robot: "That's right, don't let yourself be mistreated, bot." And one more warned: "That robot doesn’t mess around."
The incident is not the first to call into question the reliability of humanoid robots in public spaces. In November 2025, the android AIdol—presented as the first robot with artificial intelligence manufactured in Russia—had a disastrous debut when it fell face-first onto the stage of the Yarovit Hall Congress Center in Moscow and had to be removed under a black cloth. Its CEO attributed the fall to calibration issues and sensitivity to the venue's lighting.
The case of Syoma reignites the debate over the boundaries between a genuine technical failure, a programmed response, and a staged event for viral purposes, at a time when artificial intelligence is progressing faster than the security protocols that should accompany it.
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