Technology is turning against humans — and this isn’t the Terminator. Make a few bets on TonyBet Nederland and explore what the future might have in store for us.
Lately, a troubling question is being asked more and more often: could technology become our enemy? Especially after the news that a robot allegedly attacked a human. It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, but real-life incidents are making people wonder—how safe is our rapid technological progress?
What happened?
Recently, news broke that a robotic manipulator at a factory caused serious injuries to a worker. Essentially, it “mistook” the man for a part it was supposed to grab and move. The worker was hospitalized. The incident sparked a strong reaction—social media and the press were quick to ask whether robots are becoming dangerous and possibly getting out of control.
But what really happened? Experts explained that this was a system error—not an intentional attack by the robot. In other words, the machine didn’t attack with malice—it simply “misunderstood” its task. The real issue lies in its programming and the lack of proper safety measures for workers.
Still, even if it was just a technical error, the very fact that it happened is unsettling. Why?
We’ve entrusted too much
Technology has taken enormous leaps over the past 20 years. Smartphones, self-driving cars, voice assistants, robots that cook meals, guard warehouses, and even perform surgeries. We are handing over more and more responsibilities to artificial intelligence, automation, and software.
It’s convenient—machines don’t get tired, don’t get sick, and don’t demand a paycheck. But at the same time, we are stepping further away from control. We assume everything runs on its own and therefore must be reliable. Incidents like a robot attack are like alarm clocks: wake up, human—you’re not in Terminator yet, but you’re getting close.
Is artificial intelligence just a program?
One of the main problems is the myth that AI is something “alive” or “thinking.” In reality, for now, AI is just a complex program that analyzes data and makes decisions based on pre-set rules. It has no consciousness, feelings, or moral compass. But the issue is that it can make decisions that are not always understandable to humans.
For example, if a security system powered by AI decides that a person is breaking the rules, it could trigger an alarm, automatically lock doors, or even apply force if programmed to do so. Now imagine if that system was wrong?
Where is the line between friend and foe?
The hardest part is understanding where the line is between a helpful tool and a potential threat. A robot that helps assemble cars is great. But if it can’t tell a worker’s hand from a machine part, it becomes dangerous.
We should also think about autonomous systems. Take self-driving cars, for instance. There have already been cases where they hit pedestrians—because they failed to recognize them or “decided” the person wouldn’t make it across the road in time. These tragedies show that even the smartest tech isn’t immune to mistakes.
Who is responsible?
This is one of the biggest ethical and legal questions. If a robot injures someone—who’s to blame? The programmer? The engineer? The company owner? Or the user who didn’t check the settings?
Today, the world is only beginning to develop laws to regulate the use of AI and robotics. Some countries are already proposing “digital responsibility”—like a passport for every smart device, so its actions can be tracked and someone can be held accountable.
Future: threat or opportunity?
Should we fear technology? Not necessarily. Progress isn’t evil. It gives us countless benefits: curing diseases, improving quality of life, and automating routine tasks. The problem isn’t the technology itself—it’s how we use it.
Instead of being afraid, we need to ask the right questions:
— Who controls this system?
— What happens if it fails?
— Is there a backup plan?
— Can it be stopped manually?
Conclusion
Technology won’t become humanity’s enemy on its own. But if we stop controlling it, stop understanding how it works, and stop using it wisely—it could become a threat. Not because it wants to destroy us, but because we forget to be cautious.
The robot that attacked a person wasn’t a sign of a machine uprising—it was a warning: we’ve gotten too comfortable. And if we don’t start taking safety, control, and ethics seriously, the next “mistake” might cost us far more.