Thailand Deploys Humanoid Robot Dressed in Police Uniform

Thai police have deployed a humanoid robot dressed in a police uniform and equipped with facial recognition to patrol the streets during a festival. This “AI police cyborg 1.0,” more android than cyborg, can detect suspicious individuals and weapons using 360-degree cameras. Questions have been raised about the practical effectiveness and usefulness of such an immobile robot compared to simpler technologies such as camera tripods or swarms of drones. Concerns have been raised about its movement capabilities, potential privacy breaches from facial recognition, and the experience of failed robot deployments by police forces in other countries. The deployment also raises questions about whether the Thai police are sufficiently mindful of civil liberties given past allegations of corruption.