Russian engineers unveiled their new humanoid robot on stage with a dramatic flair, echoing the entrance of Rocky Balboa, signaling what was meant to be a new era in robotics for the country. However, the robot dramatically collapsed in front of the audience in Moscow.

Dubbed AIdol, this AI-powered, human-like machine was making its inaugural appearance at a press event on November 10, advertised as a showcase of the nation’s domestic robotics capabilities.

After a brief gesture to the crowd, which was filled with reporters, the robot teetered forward and tumbled — lacking grace. A substantial section of its outer shell came loose, and the organizers quickly draped it with a black cloth while working on repairs. They later attributed the tumble to issues with its calibration concerning balance systems and control software.

AIdol was developed by the Russian robotics startup Idol, led by CEO Vladimir Vitukhin. Vitukhin is part of Russia’s efforts to enter the global robotics market, an industry that garnered $1.6 billion in investments in 2024, according to the New York Times. Firms like Elon Musk’s Tesla and Amazon have also ventured into the humanoid robot space, including Tesla’s widely discussed Optimus robot. Optimus units are anticipated to be operational at Musk’s Tesla Diner in Los Angeles soon, should Musk’s plans come to fruition.

“I hope that this error will become a learning experience,” Vitukhin shared with Russian state news outlets. “This is real-time education, where a good error transforms into insight, and a bad error evolves into experience.”