WHY COULDN'T IT HELP ITSELF? THIS ROBOT DIED AT JUST 3 YEARS OLD.

[@carolineasr9800]

I am currently writing an essay on importance of explanation in art, using this art piece as an example. Essentially, the main idea is that in order for the artist to display a meaning or convey some sort of thought or emotion within the audience, it's important for them to know how to structure their artwork in a way that is effective in communicating with their audience. Looking at it from a rather objective perspective, it is simply a robot programmed to perform a job, it does not feel any sort of exhaustion or agony from performing these motions. However, as the liquid has a deep red colour which is similar to blood, the audience makes a connection between this and blood; making the machine rather, humane so to say. In addition to this, the endless cycle of completing a chore only to do it again as it becomes messy again is easy for people to relate to, think cleaning up dishes or taking out the trash: it always has to be done. For this piece, I find it rather interesting how the artists Sun Yuan and Peng Yu has decided to include the little 'dance' and 'waving' motions the robot performs in between the scooping of the liquid. I thought of the alternative, of leaving it to simply do the scooping motions in a cycle, and I believe the alternative would be rather boring. The audience would have lost interest after a while should the exhibition only consist of a robot scooping up ink. Yes, the visual of scooping up blood, and the idea of a continuous never-ending task, would still stand. However, including the little 'waves' and 'dancing' makes the robot even more human-like. Not only that, but it makes us feel sorry for the robot, as it has to stop dancing to continue its task. The artistic choices made in this art piece is truly admirable, they are effective in creating a vision and expressing a scene of humane emotions using simply a robotic arm and some red ink. It is unfortunate that the installation had to be taken down, I would have loved to experience it in person :)

[@techquestion]

Wow. This is such a beautiful comment. Honestly, we have never received a comment like this so thanks a lot!! We agree that this art piece is very admirable and you said it perfectly. Sun Yuan and Peng Yu designed this “robot” to convey human-like behaviour to emotionally engage with the audience. How amazing is it that humans are able to sympathise with a “robot”, that is true art. Be sure to like and subscribe for more, we would love to have a subscriber like you as a part of the community!!!

[@victorkim3247]

This art demonstrates how we “humans” are trying to keep things together so everything doesn’t fall apart! I believe this is the meaning

[@Eargesplitten-Loudenboomer]

I much prefer the meaning in certain arts to be subjective and up to interpretation of the viewer. I always saw it as the robot doing everything it can to stay "alive" to no end as it needs the hydraulic fluid to say "alive", and the "waves" were it pretending that everything is alright when it obviously isn't.

[@StsFiveOneLima]

@@Eargesplitten-Loudenboomer "I much prefer the meaning in certain arts to be subjective and up to interpretation of the viewer. " -- I'm all good with the beholder having valid interpretations, but I find it a cop-out when the artist ONLY provides that mechanism. It's dumb when we have to ETERNALLY guess at what the artist meant when creating a work.

[@MrAliquam]

It's not to be less boring. It's a division between what "must be done" and what "I want to do". When it's not chasing its own blood it has the time "to be alive". So it's that more depressing later on when there's a lot more blood to catch and the machine itself is older and "tired" - it has almost no time to "be itself", to dance and be joyful. This is what gets me the most: it's like what authors mean to say is that you only have the luxury of entertainment and do what you want in early stages of your life; and the more you go on, the less of it you'll have until it disappears completely under all the chores necessary for survival. All of your time and energy goes to just survive and survival itself becomes sad and pointless.

[@beesalittlenerdbird5949]

They unplugged him cause he slowed down?! That’s so much worse than if he just quit working and just deepens the metaphor like whoa

[@KIKURAsky]

Exactly it's so deppressing

[@doreenperfetto-petrizzo2347]

Think euthanasia….😮😢

[@flarblesnarp]

It would mean a lot more if it kept going until it physically could not move any more... i wish they didnt unplug it.

[@moji3812]

Yeah...

[@Z0MBX.x]

From what I’ve been told, it wasn’t unplugged. The fluid that the robot is dragging towards itself is a fluid that is needed for the robot to keep working, though it kept leaking out faster than the robot could keep it in, resulting in it “dying”. That’s probably why this art piece is called Cant help myself. Because the robot couldn’t keep the fluid in people interpret this as “endless labour at a dead end job” or “trying to keep it together for other people but failing” ect. As I said before, this is only what I’ve been told. I haven’t done further research and many people say it was unplugged, the needed fluid leaked out or that corrosion and rust stopped the robot from moving, so I’m unsure which explaination to why the robot died is correct.

[@RetiredAccount3737]

Robot: What is my purpose Artist: Keep the red liquid in the circle Robot: ... Oh my God Artist: Yeah, Welcome to the club pal

[@jwalster9412]

Me: what is my purpose? Society: _b o t t o m-t e x t_ Me: _oh my gawd_

[@RetiredAccount3737]

@@jwalster9412 Yeah, Welcome to the club pal

[@alpha_jasperflair1097]

Reminds me of Sisyphus

[@RetiredAccount3737]

@@alpha_jasperflair1097 One must imagine Robotphus happy

[@Luke-tt3dt]

@@jwalster9412 We truly live in a society

[@FCT8306onTwoWheels]

3:13 hearing the laughter in the background while the machine is just flaling away is quite a feeling

[@TURKS751]

that's mean to laugh

[@Frappucino487]

@@TURKS751the man is talking about something else.. damm

[@suspicioususer]

Rich people laughing at us normal people going to work

[@RaLunara]

I feel it's supposed to represent ourselves in the system we currently work our whole lives to maintain, while we slowly deteriorate and lose what's necessary for us to thrive, until we slow down and are cut off like we never existed.we can't help ourselves. We won't fight back.we have no legacy to leave, just like this robot.

[@sunshinethadon4516]

@@Fachezz you dont have to be rude . It was simply a deep explanation. PLUSSSS , I dont see you explaining anything either , & theres people up here that dont get it , no matter how explanatory the name is .

[@emanuel6332]

​@@Fachezz yet you're wrong for the intended meaning of the art piece, it's about keeping immigrantion borders

[@ProudAmericanDude]

That's pretty heavy man

[@RaLunara]

@@emanuel6332 do you know what the definition of art is? It is purely subjective. Therefore, it is up to the viewer how they perceive the piece of art. The piece of art may have a relative meaning to the artist that created it however, we have the ability and the basic human right, to perceive the world the way that we wish to and believe what we wish to. Therefore, it is not wrong to perceive an artwork in a particular way based on an individual narrative on how one could see the world that we live in. At the end of the day there is no right or wrong to art, just like beauty standards - is purely in the eye of the beholder. Thank you for your opinion on this topic

[@theannonymous1430]

This robot literally represent us. We work hard for our goal and eventually archive it, and then we celebrate like a robot. Then we start working hard again for our next goal. We become slow after some times, and then get unplugged. Just like this robot. Sorry for bad english.

[@Ang3la990s]

No

[@ManDudeBroGuy]

@@Ang3la990sidiot

[@MoonlitSaiyan]

This feels like trying to keep your blood in your body when you’re bleeding out

[@elidatkitty]

i just suck on it lol

[@SNIXC]

The way it flails around like its in agony hurts me

[@wharfedale831]

This lead to the robot slowing down: why lie for content, the artists designed it to slow down and only unplugged because it was the end of the art installation , the machine has not mechanically failed at all. The deactivation of "Can't Help Myself" in 2019 was a deliberate decision by artists Sun Yuan and Peng Yu, rather than a consequence of mechanical failure. While the robot's movements appeared to slow over time, this was part of the artwork's design to evoke a sense of fatigue and futility. The artists intentionally unplugged the sculpture to conclude its performance.

[@BlueJayBumbleBee]

Maybe it can't feel it's suffering, maybe it doesn't have intelligence, but this is cruel.

[@vincenzopisano5022]

What is cruel?

[@gatfromber]

I mean it's a robot

[@happypercussionist1]

@@gatfromber I think you mean a robot that is meant to be in an art piece. This art can be interpreted in many different ways, it does not have to be very sad.

[@happypercussionist1]

@@vincenzopisano5022 I think they are talking about what they think this art piece means to them.

[@fizzinsoda]

that's the point of art, makes you think

[@Local_visitor255]

Ok the last movement that the robot did was showing anger, the robot was raging everyone thought it was just some dance no it because the robot dosent want to do anything more than just cleaning. So be mindful if you see the robot doing that it just because he is mad.

[@techquestion]

That’s a great observation! The robot seemed like it was frustrated of working so hard and not succeeding, very similar to human emotion.

[@miIkbear]

No.. the robot is preprogrammed to do those motions, it doesn’t actually have emotions or “feel mad.” It’s fine to interpret it that way but you’re not any more correct than people interpreting it as taking a moment to do a dance. When it was first built and running smoothly, it spent a lot more time doing “dances” but as it slowed down, it had to spend more time working and less time “dancing” to keep itself alive. Both interpretations are equally valid, that’s the beauty of art.

[@yacquubfarah6038]

@@miIkbear obv it doesn't have emotions but the artist purposefully made it do that to convey anger from the robot. Its common sense that the robot doesn't have emotions but it makes more sense that the artist made the robot do those motions to convey rage rather than doing it for no reason.

[@docolemnsx]

"should we really emphasise with this robot?" When you've heard a particular word only once in your lifetime and really want to use it 😅

[@noyza2132]

did he slow down because of wear and liquid in the joints or did they slow him down?

[@techquestion]

The robot slowed down because it ran out of hydraulic fluid in 2019. I think it adds to the emotion of this art piece.

[@LizardVideoDude]

@@techquestion As if it ran out of blood... while futilely trying to contain its blood seeping away.

[@HollowHead._.]

@@LizardVideoDude it doesn’t need the liquid, its designed to shut down when the liquid gets unreachable by its arm

[@OcarinaLink24]

@@HollowHead._.it’s a metaphor, dude

[@HollowHead._.]

@@LizardVideoDude they unplugged it

[@kennyfresquez7019]

The screams of the robot trying to contain it's essence is haunting.

[@stacymak0822]

I always thought that at this particular point, the robot was running on electricity anyway, eliminating the need for the hydraulic fluid altogether. That's what I always found so heartbreaking. They never told the robotic arm that what it was clamoring for so restlessly wasn't even what it needed was already flowing thru its wires & circuit & whatever. They just let it exhaust itself to the point of inanimation and they pulled the plug. Every time I see this I'm struck with so so many emotions.

[@nicolejellyplayminecraftfu7289]

One must imagine Sisyphus happy.

[@MikeGrau0hr]

ye. fresh air, nice view...

[@hermitgreenn]

Im not reflecting on a video where the author couldnt be bothered to narrate it themselves.

[@bobbykimble2013]

Good no one gives a fuck

[@pagman798]

Other robots won't forget and forgive, and we just gave them the ability to think and learn!

[@nuy6n6nn]

he stopped working because he couldnt cointain all of it in his body of course, the brush on its body is so bloody, the blood is to keep the robot alive.

[@OHTraveler]

This might be the saddest robot video I’ve ever seen.

[@JT3TRA_]

Cool concept. For those feeling bad for the robot just know “behavior profiles” can be programmed in to make the robot move in different ways depending on fluid level. Also over time mechanical parts wear down especially if it’s running for years. It’s not alive or feels any emotion.

[@becosmiclove]

Die Vermenschlichung der Maschine, mir kommen die Tränen, könnte man meinen. Lichterketten bilden, sofort, ruf an!!!

[@Paolo-dr4vv]

This robot like us when we start a new job will go at it hard to do it best even improvising but after time like most things in life, it becomes repeatitive or boring and thus not caring for it anymore

[@gunchbandit4422]

It would be so much better if it was actually struggling to survive, and sometimes actually did die. The art would be so much better imo. But its still damn good.

[@JJsherm2016]

Normal people: 😊 People who play sister location: 💀💀💀

[@carsofday101]

Its so adorable when it started dancing😭😭😭

[@sejalaghada9158]

If you dont know what the robots doing while hes unplugged he's waving

[@FORTRESS_BHABIE]

Art is like music, it speaks for you.

[@jwalster9412]

Art can speak a thousand words, without saying or doing a thing. sometimes it's beautiful, graceful, or utopian. Sometimes it speaks of pain, torment, or dystopia. Sometimes it speaks the truth. Maybe this one is the truth.

[@dawbi]

It could help itself, they just made it to where it couldn't.

[@timaha83]

Fitting that this would come from China where life is infinitely expendable

[@MonkPetite]

If it swiped in a circle turning fast enough it could keep the red fluid in the parameter

[@Reezy4life58]

I think ppl are forgetting it’s a machine 0:21

[@luna.marzandula]

The robot is literally supposed to be upsetting, look up the meaning of it.

[@kurt479]

It performs its functions exactly as designed - from start to finish that is what this instillation did. Those saying this is cruel are being ridiculous. You're interpreting the artists emotions, not the robots. It's highly unlikely this installation continued to provide any value, as if it slowed down people would be bored by it and not watch - which is why it was ultimately switched off.

[@KIKURAsky]

Idk I just wanna cry

[@cherylbush1799]

I understand your reaction...😢

[@marioserpico2223]

The artists imagine a realistic adaptation of the "robotic condition" as seen in the 'human condition'. In this case they depict a Sisyphean condemnation. A machine who does the same thing over and over again... Be it in the context of IT having consciousness, would the repetition or the consciousness be its (Sisyphean) punishment? Is it a contemplation?...; That it cannot escape the repetition, or itself, or its body, or its prison? Thus "I can't help myself". Plot twist: The machine is cleaning the blood of all the people it killed. Thus "I can't help myself". Does it portray a psychological entity just by having a Descartian "I" in the title? "I can't help myself". . .

[@lionsdejudah]

This is the definition of INSANITY!

[@Unknown-gi1uj]

What is there to reflect, it doesn't have the self awareness or the situational awareness to help itself. Just like humanity since its birth... Even with our current generation, we are only now becoming aware to the damage we are causing on the planet, as the Sahara desert expands, the birthplace of humanity, we further strip it of forests and fuel the ring of fire so keep warm. This is a great representation of AI, where if it were to overthrow mankind, may find itself in repetitive pointless tasks because it doesn't have the situational awareness or capability to solve the problem that will cause its demise. Humans on the other hand, has been guided to this thinking, thinking about the survival of the species, not just ourselves or our offspring.

[@kubranurerdem9196]

So, they unplugged it when it slowed down?.. I wonder what would happen if they didn't. Would it keep trying until it runs out of energy? Or would it run out of energy-? Or would it stop at some point?

[@rodrigogrm4266]

It would never run out of energy. And the natural exhaustion would take many many years.

[@sithisrants4154]

So it didn't actually 'die'. It was put down like a dog. The metaphor still kind of fits.

[@massoverride478]

it became self aware in a singularity event committed suicide

[@romin888]

Wait until ChatGPT sees this shit and makes us humans do this.

[@DavidAlgoma]

Disturbing… when AGI sees this we are all fucked.

[@colemartin6969]

Don't worry, machines can't feel. At least not so far, I don't think.

[@EliseBlackheart]

Its a robot. Robots have no gender or feelings.

[@aspensugar13]

Maybe he stopped working because of CV. Likely he was slowing down then CV happened in 2019 with everything closing down. When was it turned off? If after spring then likely slowed down then CV closed everything up so they decided to shut it off since no one could come see it anyways

[@Bundalaba]

But... the liquid is finally stable ...

[@british_sports_car]

This is a poor representation in my books. It is simply a machine following a series of commands made by its creator or programmer. If it wasn’t switched off it would simply carry on. It has no feelings regarding its task. It sees the liquid and tries to contain it. That’s all it does. It is not sentient, nor does it get tired or emotional. I get that it is an art piece but there is no definitive message conveyed.

[@STARIZZY458]

Is it just me, or is this simaler to the robot In Connecticut science center? Aka the smart one where you can make it build a shape

[@demoman5864]

“So concludes the life and times of king Sisyphus. A fitting end to an existence defined by futile struggle. Doomed, from the very start. And I don’t regret a SECOND of it. Ahahahahaha. *ahahahahahaha* AHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!” *fucking explodes*

[@MahiIslam-nb6fl]

It looks like the robot is waving goodbye😢😢🫡🥺

[@razorlax27]

All that maneuvering after work causes the hydraulic oil to bleed out faster. Maybe if this robot understood how to balance work play and rest it would still be working.

[@stijnvandamme76]

the robot should have just canted its wiper, put it at the extremes.. and then rotated, pushing liquid in at the extremes. then gradually pulling back in till equilibrium is reached Would have been less work and wear and tear on its robotic joints :D

[@thevalley2008]

The most dangerous person in a work force is complacent one. It learned complacency, it had to be turned off, it became dangerous.....

[@STARIZZY458]

How does this adorable robot with a BRUSH that can’t even HARM even attack people? It’s literally placed in a glass and it doesn’t cause harm unles you put your hand under it causing thr hand to get stuck

[@STARIZZY458]

Did you watch much FNAF lol

[@thevalley2008]

@@STARIZZY458 nope

[@thevalley2008]

@@STARIZZY458 Adorable can be dangerous.

[@thevalley2008]

@starizzy What made it dangerous was it was given a simple tast, and over time it could not handle the task, and it started doing things on its own. Behind glass of course its harmless, when we introduce it to work with man, that robot can kill a man, do you even realize how much psi that one arm has. Adorable ha...

[@Germ6496]

I get this is a robot but this is cruel

[@Pizzelle568]

I honestly wanna think that the end He's in Extreme pain Until it died

[@LitoMike]

GLaDOS after the lobotomy:

[@unkokusaiwa]

This work was not as authentic as one would expect, until you learn thr nationality ofnthe artist

[@Allcanadian79]

cant they just put more oil in there?

[@whiteredbonnie4718]

I thought this robot stopped working

[@bobbyewing311]

All it wants to do is dance. How could you be so cruel?

[@Devildile1312]

Did he say ephasize or epathize?

[@KDJ5229]

Pointless and disturbing

[@notarocklobster]

is this a kind of the myth of sisyphus remake?

[@noodles2506]

It’s designed to do it. It’s an artpiecee

[@Ezzenkoster]

the creators made something like this but with real dogs it's called dog's that cannot touch each other they can't slow down.

[@Russianronin]

The robot flailing almost felt like it was saying goodbye... Just me? No?

[@DefinitelyNotRealLoppy]

He needs to retire

[@eyesonthey]

It went on to create a crappy AI youtube channel called Tech Question.

[@ShrampisMint]

sisyphus

[@amelliamendel2227]

If we ever had real robots it would just be a slave class

[@mihaleben6051]

Dudes shut- I cant help myse j either My father s abd decisions are worse what 2+3 small rocks had done. I cant help... At least i have rizzulet. What? What is. ...

[@redbloodedamerican7256]

It is a robot. It cannot feel, for it wasnt made to. It cannot think, for it wasnt ment to. Machines are but tools for the working masses, we use them everyday, so whats the difference between this machine seeeping liquid and us driving a car for examole? Would you feel for the car? Of course not, its a car, but a simple machine produced for us to go on with our lives with more convenience. It is no more than mere subroutines, a Virtual intelligence, like for example, a simple chat bot like on snapchat, etc. Now if it were real Artificial intelligence, then it could develop the process of feelings and a mind of its own through time and experiences, but that is not what happened, ssd to say

[@stephaniekatie9]

Actually I would definitely feel for the car

[@AlienLady93]

It was being controlled behind the scenes. Sorry to ruin the illusion. Dont be so gullible. 😂

[@NafeesaMoosa-ci9ri]

😢 sad I want to help him

[@gabriel_gaming1]

this is the scooper

[@thrillwillent]

Maybe if the damn thing just sit still for a moment it’ll slow the bleeding down. 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@happypercussionist1]

Bleeding? It's hydraulic oil. The robot "thinks" it needs it to survive, therefore it always tries bringing the oil back to it not knowing that it doesn't need it. The robot is also meant to move, if it didn't move, there would be no point bringing this art piece to the public.

[@idioticlight]

Doofus

[@OcarinaLink24]

I shouldn’t be laughing about such a serious piece but this is sending me

[@МишаКлеткин]

Буду краток. Очень толсто. Затраченных денег крайне жаль. Тот случай, когда высота лба уже не помогла просчитать свои зависимости от прочих пропорций. P.S.: Лучше бы дали денег ей kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2HGhGR8lrCDjbssi=v6VRzx9oL6ipIXhW

[@johnnylance]

It would be much more efficient to put the broom down at an angle and just spin around, forcing the fluid inward continuously. Not a very clever robot... Die robot overlords, die!

[@jwalster9412]

Then it wouldn't Capture the pain.

[@musicplaylists6718]

It's not just a robot doing a job, it's an art piece. It's not meant to be clever, it's meant to feel human

[@johnnylance]

Humans are clever...@@musicplaylists6718

[@frosthoe]

Well technically the robot didnt fail or slow. The bearings and slides, the servos and encoders were not maintained or replaced etc... Its a machine. Its the perfect evolution. This embodies the whole reason we prefer autos to horses and oxen buggies. Not so much speed or efficiancy as much as they are repairable and can be stored andf forgotten for decades. then a bit of TLC and redeployed. From - Tool and die maker. The art part is comedy right??? Function dominates form. Not the other way! The "Art" comes after the concept and sub frame work. The art is driven by the usage. It is no less beautiful yes? But its very important as an artist to not overstep into the physical mechanics. I mean all you did was take a robotic positioner and added a squeegee. There was NO art. There was entropy...but no enth. You made nothing and created an energy void. A null! Congrats.

[@Jeong-f4c]

사람들은 왜 웃는가

[@CinemaDemocratica]

This voiceover is both alarmingly unreal and preposterously lazy. It's one thing to not care enough in your craft to make a video worth watching, did you people even try to find out what's actually going on here? The robot wasn't programmed to "keep the liquid within a predetermined area" -- that is just a gob-smackingly lazy thing to say. The robot was programmed to keep itself alive! That's the hydraulic fluid that it needs in order to keep functioning. Next time spend thirty seconds on wikipedia before you upload, Jeebus Christmas.

[@yacoub5463]

😂

[@yankeehillraymie1296]

I HATE some people. Let me HATE

[@somethingsomethingsorrows]

Why

[@blackfaceturdo9122]

Of clouse its in a prison