Originally designed as an advanced crime deterrent, the K5 robot quickly became the butt of jokes and earned the “wheelie bin” reputation. His resignation came about four months after the launch.

The NYPD’s investment in the K5 robot and similar technology has raised questions about the distribution of state funding, especially given its decision to invest in technology while staffing is being reduced.

Despite initial enthusiasm from Mayor Eric Adams, who touted the robot as a cost-effective investment, K5 turned out to be more problematic than helpful. By design, the robot was supposed to deter crime through its presence and communication capabilities.

But it could not cope with practical tasks and eventually became a symbol of incorrectly chosen priorities in law enforcement technology.

K5 was hired last fall / Photo: The New York Times

It is ironic that the robot, whose job is to make the police’s job easier by relieving them of routine duties at the police station, only compounds the problem by requiring close human supervision. This situation does not actually reflect the general picture in the industry, but it allows us to express a cautious assumption that the time when robots will start to take over people’s jobs is still far ahead.