A technology exhibition at Kish Inox aimed at showcasing Iran’s innovation has generated significant online attention after attendees and social media users identified its featured “humanoid robots” as human performers in elaborate costumes.
Video footage from a cybersecurity booth showed a male and female performer in a printed jumpsuit and makeup dressed as robots. The performers moved with deliberate, mechanical movements on stage.
The performers were disguised as advanced robotic entities. One of the videos that circulated widely online includes the artists introducing themselves through written dialogue filled with technical jargon.
Social media users noticed details such as natural skin tones, subtle facial expressions and makeup textures, leading many to conclude that the displays were made by people.
However, later representatives of the exhibition revealed that the two people were doing a short performance for one of the stands. It was not stated that they were real robots.
The theatrical presentation was designed as an attractive marketing display rather than a demonstration of functional artificial intelligence.
