About 30 robots marched through the streets of Warsaw on Monday, waving flags and “chanting” slogans as they called for stronger regulation of artificial intelligence and robotisation.
The demonstration was organised by Democratism, an initiative seeking to promote debate about how AI and robotics could affect the labour market.
The robots, ranging from bipedal humanoids to dog-like machines, carried out a simulated protest outside Poland’s Digital Affairs Ministry.
“Defend workplaces,” “Time for rules” and “Don’t wait, regulate” were played through loudspeakers during the demonstration.
One of the humanoid robots, Agibot A3, told AFP that the machines were there to show that AI-powered robotics was already becoming a reality.
Organiser Grzegorz Kulis said the protest was aimed particularly at the potential replacement of human workers by humanoid robots and artificial intelligence in jobs involving cognitive tasks.
“If we don’t react now, we may soon have a problem,” Kulis said, calling for regulations that would protect workers as the technology develops.
The demonstration attracted the attention of passers-by and also drew Poland’s Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski, who spoke with Kulis at the scene.
Gawkowski said uncontrolled AI models integrated into humanoid robots could become a major concern as robotisation continues to advance.
Kulis, who works as a chief information officer at a robotics company and heads an employment agency, said the organisers felt a responsibility to raise public awareness about rapid technological changes.
“These robots can already move around freely, they’re already ‘protesting’,” he said.
The protest comes as Poland moves to implement the European Union’s AI Act, which establishes rules for the development and use of artificial intelligence.
In July, Polish President Karol Nawrocki signed legislation establishing a national authority to enforce the EU regulations already in force.
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