California moves to shut down robot vs. human cage matches
The California State Athletic Commission has issued a cease-and-desist letter to a startup that hosted a fight between a human and a robot. The event raises questions about legality and ethics.
The California State Athletic Commission has sent a cease-and-desist letter to a startup named Rek, which hosted a match between a human and a robot last month. The New York Times first reported the action.
The fight, which took place on September 18th, featured a human competitor, Frankie LaPenna, against a Rek-owned humanoid robot. The robot was piloted remotely by a human using a "remote virtual-reality system," according to The New York Times. Rek advertises itself on its website as "the humanoid robot fighting league." The robot appears to be a model from EngineAI with a modified, Terminator-like head.
The commission's action highlights regulatory challenges for emerging technologies and safety concerns in sporting events. It remains unclear how existing California regulations will apply to such future hybrid competitions.
The event has sparked discussion about the intersection of technology and entertainment. Rek has not yet publicly commented on the commission's order. A replay of the match is available on YouTube.