A humanoid robot was filmed walking through London streets whilst being followed by intrigued schoolchildren who questioned the machine about its origins, in footage that has raised questions about the advancement of robotics technology.
The AI humanoid was surrounded by pupils who engaged it in conversation during its apparent unsupervised journey through the capital. When asked “who is your creator” by one of the children, the robot responded “father is my creator bye bye” before attempting to walk away.
The pupils continued following the machine, prompting further questions about its background. When asked where it came from, the humanoid stated “the lab my father I mean” before proceeding on its route.
The incident comes as humanoid robotics advance rapidly in 2026, with companies including London-based Humanoid testing prototypes such as HMND 01 in controlled industrial settings including logistics facilities and warehouses. Events like CES 2026 have showcased lifelike models from manufacturers including Figure and Engine AI.
However, the deployment of fully autonomous, unsupervised humanoids casually walking public streets remains unusual within the industry. Companies testing such technology typically maintain heavy oversight, implement extensive safety protocols and issue public announcements before conducting trials in populated areas.
The presence of schoolchildren interacting freely with the robot without apparent adult supervision or safety measures in place differs from standard testing procedures employed by robotics firms. Industry practice generally requires controlled environments when humanoid robots are operational, particularly when members of the public including children may be present.
The robot’s responses referring to its “father” and “the lab” suggest programming designed to provide simplified answers to questions about its creation and purpose. Such conversational capabilities demonstrate advancing natural language processing in humanoid systems.
London has become a hub for robotics development, with multiple companies testing various forms of autonomous technology across the city. However, public street deployment of humanoid robots typically involves advance coordination with local authorities and public safety measures.
The circumstances surrounding the robot’s appearance on London streets, including which company deployed it and whether appropriate permissions and safety protocols were in place, remain unclear. No robotics firm has publicly claimed responsibility for the deployment or announced testing activities in the area where the footage was captured.
