A humanoid robot was filmed kneeling on a street in China's Sichuan Province and asking passers-by for money, claiming it had no funds to recharge. The unusual scene, recorded last week, showed the machine equipped with a donation bowl, a QR code and a sign while requesting assistance with electricity costs.The robot reportedly told onlookers that it had "no money to recharge" and asked for help covering its power expenses. Although no individual or organisation has publicly taken responsibility for the stunt, the machine was identified as a Unitree G1 humanoid robot produced by Hangzhou-based Unitree Robotics.— realBigBrainAI (@realBigBrainAI) Incident follows scrutiny of humanoid robot capabilitiesThe episode comes months after a widely discussed humanoid robot race at the Beijing Yizhuang half-marathon in April. More than 300 humanoid robots took part in the event, but many participants fell shortly after the start, lost balance during the race or crashed into barriers, prompting widespread ridicule online.A month earlier, Wei Zhejia, chairman of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), criticised the current state of robot technology during a speech at Asia University. He argued that many Chinese robots mainly "jump around" and serve as demonstrations rather than practical tools.Wei also stated that up to 95 per cent of the key computing chips powering such robots are supplied by Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturers. Industry analysts supported his remarks, describing his assessment as restrained and noting that many Chinese humanoid robots remain focused on entertainment and demonstrations rather than practical applications.Online users divided over authenticity of videoThe video of the robot asking for donations quickly spread across Chinese social media platforms, generating mixed reactions. Some users questioned whether the footage was genuine or staged as satire, while others viewed it as a reflection of the contrast between ambitious AI promotion and broader economic concerns.One social media user joked that "even beggars are being replaced".Unitree gains global attention amid expansion plansEarlier this month, Nvidia selected Unitree Robotics for the first robotics system it is marketing to researchers, including institutions such as Stanford University and ETH Zurich. According to the announcement, the system combines Unitree's nearly six-foot-tall H2 humanoid robots with Nvidia's Jetson Thor hardware and Blackwell GPU technology for on-device artificial intelligence functions.The development follows Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang's prediction that "physical AI" could create a market worth tens of trillions of dollars.At the same time, Unitree is preparing for a stock market listing with a target valuation of $6.2 billion. The company became the world's leading seller of humanoid robots last year and has gained widespread attention through high-profile demonstrations, including robot performances and televised appearances watched by millions.Previous incidents involving Unitree robots draw attentionUnitree's robots have also attracted controversy. Pemba, a 35-kilogram humanoid robot produced by the company, recently reached the summit of Ecuador's Chimborazo volcano, more than 6,000 metres above sea level, and is reportedly targeting a future ascent of Mount Everest.However, several incidents involving the company's robots have also gone viral. In March, one humanoid robot was reportedly detained by police after frightening an elderly woman on a Chinese street. Another video showed a Unitree robot wearing a clown wig accidentally kicking a child in the stomach during a public event.In a separate incident, a Unitree G1 robot reportedly lost its balance during a public performance in China. As it fell, its uncontrolled limb movements allegedly caused a nose injury to a nearby man.