An unprecedented combat match featuring a humanoid robot inspired by the movie Terminator squaring off against a human inside a steel cage has sparked intense controversy over safety and legality in the United States.
The New York Times reported on the 8th (local time) that the world’s first ‘human vs. robot’ fighting match, held on August 18 in San Francisco, California, has faced regulatory enforcement from authorities.
The event was organized by REK (Robot Entertainment Kombat), a tech startup promoting a robot fighting league. The match featured 167-centimeter-tall popular YouTuber Frankie LaPenna fighting sequentially against three different humanoid robots in front of about 100 invited spectators.
One of the competing robots was modeled after the name and appearance of the killer robot ‘T800’ from the movie Terminator. Standing approximately 183 centimeters tall and weighing 90 kilograms, the robot featured a steel skeletal structure and a skull-like face, with a reported kick force reaching 385 kilograms.
During the match, LaPenna entered the octagonal steel cage wearing a helmet and protective gear. Rather than operating via autonomous artificial intelligence, the robots were remotely controlled by humans using virtual reality (VR) equipment.
Footage from the event showed LaPenna generally holding the upper hand, knocking the robot down several times. Although the robots quickly stood back up after falling, their relatively slow movements made it difficult for them to avoid incoming attacks.
In a thrilling counter-attack, one robot kicked LaPenna and cornered him against the cage wall. LaPenna reportedly injured his hand while striking the robot’s metallic body with his fists. Spectators cheered as the fallen robot was carried out of the arena.
Before the match, LaPenna allegedly signed a waiver agreeing not to hold the organizers liable even in the event of death.
As controversy escalated, the California Athletic Commission sent a letter to REK demanding an immediate halt to the event. The commission, which oversees professional and amateur boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts (MMA), pointed out that human-involved combat sports or exhibitions require prior approval. Unlicensed promotion, hosting, or participation can constitute a misdemeanor.
Conversely, REK countered that current regulations do not apply to human-robot matchups. Six Lee, CEO of REK, published the authorities’ letter on social media, arguing that legal combat matches are strictly defined as brawls between humans, making human-robot bouts exempt from regulation. Lee explained that the goal is to create a new sport where humanoids fight each other, allowing people to experience blood sports safely without injury.
Experts also expressed concern over scenes of a robot directly attacking a human. Amid ongoing warnings that artificial intelligence could pose a threat to humanity, combat scenes reminiscent of sci-fi killer robots have become a reality.
Ken Goldberg, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, noted that people harbor fear and frustration toward robots, which is precisely why they flock to such combat videos. He remarked that people want to see a human kick a robot’s gearbox, while warning that if robots are programmed to throw punches, escaping them is difficult and terrifying.
REK stated that the combat footage recorded the highest view count among all online content released by the company, surpassing 60 million views on YouTube. However, REK announced it has no plans to host another human-versus-robot match, planning instead to launch a new event in San Francisco featuring blade-equipped humanoid robots fighting each other.
