AI-powered "RoboCops" take up traffic duties in Chinese cities

fjo3 writes: Donning a police uniform, a reflective vest and a white cap, the robot officer — identified by the badge number "Intelligent Police Unit R001" — looks remarkably human from a distance. Up close, its metallic sleekness and futuristic demeanor have made it a local celebrity, with pedestrians frequently pausing to snap photos of the cyberpunk scene.

"It is a new colleague capable of assisting us effectively," said Jiang Zihao, a traffic police officer in Wuhu. According to Jiang, "Intelligent Police Unit R001," an AI-enabled traffic policing robot, is integrated with the city's traffic signal system. It can execute standard traffic command gestures synchronized with changing lights.