A humanoid robot at a Haidilao hot pot restaurant in Cupertino, California went off-script on March 8, flailing its arms during a dance routine and sending plates, chopsticks, and sauces flying across a dining table. At least three employees had to physically grab the robot and drag it away from the table before it could cause any injuries.

The robot appears to be an AgiBot X2 — the same model the Chinese robotics startup showcased at CES in January 2026. Haidilao had deployed it for entertainment, not service, having guests request dance performances at their tables. When staff brought the robot closer to a table than its typical operating range, its high-intensity "celebration mode" routine clashed with the tight quarters.

Footage from the incident, originally posted on China's Xiaohongshu platform, went viral across X, YouTube, and Instagram. The video shows one employee checking her phone — possibly trying to access a kill-switch app — while two others attempt to restrain the still-moving robot by its neck handle.

Haidilao denied the incident was a malfunction. "The robot was brought closer to a dining table at a guest's request, which is not its typical operating setting," the company told NBC News. "The limited space affected its movement during the performance." No injuries were reported, and the restaurant said additional staff training on safe deployment has since been provided.

AgiBot did not respond to press inquiries. The X2 is designed for humanoid manipulation tasks with a 43-degrees-of-freedom body built for fine motor work — not improvised cabaret in confined dining spaces.

The incident highlights a widening gap between demo-stage robotics and real-world deployment. As restaurants race to adopt humanoid robots for novelty value, operational protocols haven't always kept up.