Based on how robots get treated in demonstration videos, you could hardly blame them for wanting to overthrow humanity. 

In this terrifying video, a humanoid robot is seen taking a beating from a human operator, before smashing its own fingers with a mallet. 

To make things even weirder, the robot also shows off its bizarrely flexible joints by contorting itself like something out of The Exorcist. 

While they might be impressive, these creepy movements have led some commenters on social media to call the robot ‘absolutely terrifying.’ 

But at only 4ft 1″ (127cm) – roughly the height of the average eight-year-old – the Unitree G1 might struggle to reach the top shelf, let alone destroy humanity.

In this terrifying video, a humanoid robot is seen taking a beating from a human operator, before smashing its own fingers with a mallet 

In one eerie clip, the child-sized robot can be seen smashing its own hand with a mallet

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At the start of the video, the child-sized humanoid appears crumpled on the floor, before rising up on its flexible joints. 

This flexibility appears to be something Unitree is keen to stress, as the video also shows the robot packing itself up like an android contortionist. 

Weighing just 35kg (77lbs), this makes the G1 portable, as a Unitree employee demonstrates by picking up the folded robot. 

However, these specific contortions are very likely designed to imitate a recent video in which Boston Dynamics showed off the flexibility of its Atlas humanoid robot. 

In another move seemingly inspired by Boston Dynamics’ unique presentations, the Unitree team also subject their robot to series of kicks and punches to the chest.

Despite repeated attacks, the G1 manages to take the impacts and remain standing while only stumbling backwards to regain its balance.

But some social media commenters are not impressed by the robot’s impressive testing, branding the robot’s strange movements as ‘creepy’. 

‘We’re officially entering the age of the robot contortionists’, wrote one YouTube commenter.

The robot also shows off its flexible joints which are able to twist and rotate, giving it an impressive ability to move like a contortionist 

Another joked that Unitree was ‘trying to beat Boston Dynamics in the “most creepy getting up from the floor”-routine’.

Several commenters also pointed out the slightly unnerving disclaimer at the end of the video which states: ‘Users are asked to keep a sufficient safe distance between the humanoid robot and the humanoid robot.’

One commenter joked: ‘Can’t have them plotting against us can we?’

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A few commenters even seemed genuinely worried that the robot might start to resent all the abuse.

One commenter wrote: ‘Bro why they always need to kick/punch the robot, they will take it personal once singularity arrives.’

‘I have a feeling all these android introductory videos with the gratuitous part of them being kicked and hit will come back to haunt us someday’, wrote another.

Meanwhile one commenter simply added: ‘Don’t kick him hard he has feelings’. 

In another odd detail, the video also shows the G1 smashing its own hands with a mallet. 

On social media, one commenter joked that this was the robot’s ‘debt collector mode’.  

The robot is able to pack itself down to a compact ball and at only 35 kg, a human can pick up the robot and carry it around 

The G1 demonstrates its impressive dexterity as it carries out tasks like cooking and soldering 

However, this seemingly unusual test may actually demonstrate an important capability.

Recently, it was revealed that Shadow Robot Company, a British firm, had developed a super-durable robotic hand to help develop Google DeepMind’s AI robotics. 

Likewise, Shadow Robot Company’s test videos showed their robot hand being pounded with hammers and slammed by pistons.

This ruggedness is necessary because AIs are often very rough and jerky when learning to operate robots, leading to frequent breakages. 

Unitree notes that the G1’s controls are ‘imitation & reinforcement learning driven’, hinting that a tougher build could be intended for surviving the AI learning process. 

Yet it does not seem that Unitree has sacrificed dexterity for toughness, as the video also shows the G1 using its three-fingered claw to carry out a number of tasks.

It isn’t quite clear what the intended use of this robot is quite yet. Although it boasts a number of impressive features it is also too small to replace humans in factory work 

The G1 demonstrates some martial arts-style moves with a stick, decapitates a cola bottle, smashes a walnut, and even demonstrates some soldering. 

However, some commenters were disturbed by the surprising amount of force the little robot was able to generate.   

One commenter asked: ‘Am I the only one who is concerned about the fact that this robot can crush nuts with his bare hands?’

Another concerned commenter added: ‘Did anyone else imagine a human skull, crushed under the fist of the robot, instead of the walnut?’

This is also not the first time that one of Unitree’s robotic creations has sparked alarm. 

The company used to be known for four-legged robots, one of which was recently used as a base for a terrifying flamethrower robot. 

With its extreme toughness, this latest humanoid robot might remind some of the creepy killer robots from The Terminator (pictured)

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However, it has recently branched out, and this is now the second humanoid robot released by Unitree. 

Earlier this year Unitree’s H1 robot set a new speed record for humanoid machines as it hit an impressive 7mph (11 kmph).

The new G1 is no snail either, reaching top speeds of a respectable 4.5mph (7.2kmph). 

Even though $16,000 (£12,600) isn’t cheap, this is a bargain compared with the H1’s starting price of $90,000 (£71,000).

For comparison, Elon Musk has said that he wants Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus to cost around $20,000 (£15,600), although the model has not yet entered production.