Robots protest for AI regulation in Warsaw

Around 30 robots took part in a Warsaw protest on Monday calling for regulation of artificial intelligence in front of Poland's digital affairs ministry.

The protest was organised by Democratism, an initiative that says it wants to start debate about how AI and robotisation affect the labour market. The robots included bipedal humanoids and dog-like quadripeds, while slogans such as "Defend workplaces", "Time for rules" and "Don't wait, regulate" played on loudspeakers.

Organiser Grzegorz Kulis said the action was meant to address the possible replacement of people by humanoid robots and artificial intelligence in cognitive work. He said rules were needed to protect workers.

Poland's Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski visited the protest and spoke to Kulis. Gawkowski said uncontrolled AI models implemented into humanoids would be a major problem as robotisation develops.

In July, Poland's president Karol Nawrocki signed into law a bill putting the European Union's AI Act into practice. The law created a national authority able to enforce existing EU regulations.