Russia’s first AI humanoid robot toppled forward and crashed to the floor only moments after its debut in Moscow, turning what was meant to be a showcase of domestic technological progress into a viral embarrassment.
The robot, named AIdol, was presented by Russian robotics company Idol during a major tech event on Monday. After taking just a few tentative steps, the machine wobbled, lost balance, and fell face-first onto the stage. Pieces broke off as staff hurried to cover the scene with a curtain. Videos of the mishap spread quickly across Russian social media.
Idol’s CEO, Vladimir Vitukhin, said the fall was caused by calibration problems and stressed that AIdol is still in active testing. He added that the company hopes to learn from the failure and continue development. Despite the rough debut, Idol described the robot as an important milestone in Russia’s push for self-reliance in robotics and artificial intelligence.
AIdol runs on a 48 volt battery and can operate for up to six hours. According to the company, the current prototype uses 77 percent Russian made components, with plans to raise that number to 93 percent in upcoming versions. Although the robot cannot yet walk reliably, Vitukhin said it can perform simple facial expressions such as smiling, thinking, and showing surprise.
Public reaction, however, was far less optimistic. Clips of the failed demonstration quickly drew jokes and criticism, with many questioning why an unstable prototype was unveiled so publicly. Idol has now removed AIdol from further demonstrations while engineers reassess its balance and control systems.
The company insists the project will move forward, but for now, AIdol’s first appearance has highlighted the steep challenges ahead for Russia’s humanoid robotics ambitions.