At Moscow's AI Journey conference, President Vladimir Putin observed a humanoid robot named Green perform a short dance and responded, "Very beautiful. Thanks." The Sberbank-staged demonstration emphasized Green's claim of embedded AI, more than 40 motors, and multiple sensors. The clip, which showed bodyguards step closer during the display, circulated widely and followed other recent robot mishaps, underlining the unpredictable optics of public AI demos.
Putin Calls Dancing Robot 'Very Beautiful' During Awkward AI Showcase
At Moscow's AI Journey conference, President Vladimir Putin observed a humanoid robot named Green perform a short dance and responded, "Very beautiful. Thanks." The Sberbank-staged demonstration emphasized Green's claim of embedded AI, more than 40 motors, and multiple sensors. The clip, which showed bodyguards step closer during the display, circulated widely and followed other recent robot mishaps, underlining the unpredictable optics of public AI demos.
05:43 AM, 11/21/2025Technology
Russian President Vladimir Putin watched a humanoid robot named Green perform a brief dance at the AI Journey conference in Moscow, responding with a muted, "Very beautiful. Thanks," before moving on. Footage of the moment captured a stony expression on the president's face and quickly circulated on television and social media.
What happened
The demonstration, presented by Sberbank at the conference, showed Green introducing itself and describing its capabilities before asking a virtual assistant to play its chosen song. The robot—speaking in Russian—said, "My name is Green. I am the first Russian humanoid robot with embedded artificial intelligence," and explained that over 40 motors and multiple sensors let it move smoothly and maintain balance.
The interaction
Green launched into a short choreographed routine set to the folk-pop song "The Sun Rose High," while a small group of officials, including Putin's bodyguards, watched. At one point, a bodyguard appeared to edge between the robot and the president, seemingly to ensure the performance proceeded without incident. The brief exchange — a robot performing and Putin offering a terse compliment — became one of the day's most replayed clips.
Why it mattered
The incident drew attention not only for its awkward optics but also because it followed another recent onstage mishap in which a different humanoid robot fell soon after walking onstage. Public demonstrations like these highlight both technical progress in robotics and the fragile optics that can accompany high-profile showcases.
Ultimately, the episode underscored how carefully staged AI presentations can still produce memorable, unpredictable moments when machines interact with prominent figures and live audiences.