In a recent LinkedIn post, Kobi Omenaka critically examines a CEO’s decision to demonstrate his company’s humanoid robot by having it strike him on camera, questioning the logic behind such a move in an era saturated with AI and robot-themed cautionary tales.
Kobi Omenaka opens by referencing a litany of popular culture examples, from “The Terminator” and “The Matrix” to “Ex Machina” and “I, Robot,” all of which, he points out, share a common theme: robots evolving, rebelling, and ultimately posing a threat to humanity. Despite these widely known narratives, the CEO in question, Zhao Tongyang of EngineAI, apparently chose a demonstration that seemed to echo the very fears these stories explore.
“Every single one ends the same way. (spoilers) Robots learn. Robots evolve. Robots rebel. And our takeaway was: ‘Yeah, but what if we taught them to kick us better?’ 🥴”
Questioning the ‘Innovation’ Narrative
The core of Kobi Omenaka’s critique lies in the perceived absurdity of using physical assault as a means of proving technological capability. He highlights that Zhao Tongyang’s intent was to quell skepticism about the authenticity of his company’s viral robot videos. However, Omenaka suggests that there might have been less extreme ways to achieve this validation.
“We’re literally programming machines to fight us and calling it innovation,” Kobi Omenaka argues, drawing a stark analogy to illustrate his point.
“This is like teaching a toddler how to pick locks, then being shocked when they escape their room. Except the toddler is made of metal. And never sleeps. And will remember every time you said ‘no.'”
A Hilarious, Yet Troubling, Business Decision
Kobi Omenaka frames the situation as a darkly humorous reflection of current business trends, where extreme measures are taken to capture attention and establish credibility. He notes the shift from the digital age’s demand for visual proof (“pics or it didn’t happen”) to a new, unsettling benchmark in the tech world.
“We’ve gone from ‘pics or it didn’t happen’ to ‘let your robot hit you or we won’t believe your startup is real.'”
He questions the wisdom of such a strategy, suggesting that perhaps the focus should be on more constructive applications of advanced technology, rather than on demonstrating its capacity for harm.
Alternative Approaches to Innovation
While not discouraging technological advancement, Kobi Omenaka advocates for a more responsible and less confrontational approach to showcasing innovation. He proposes a simpler, more benign alternative.
“Maybe skip the part where you programme it to physically assault you and call it marketing. Maybe teach it to make eggs first?”
In conclusion, Kobi Omenaka’s post serves as a sharp, yet humorous, commentary on the extreme lengths some companies might go to for validation, urging a re-evaluation of what constitutes genuine innovation versus a potentially dangerous spectacle. He leaves readers pondering whether humanity is inadvertently scripting its own dystopian future.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Kobi Omenaka on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on April 21, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →