California orders Rek to stop robot vs. human fights without approval

In short: California regulators told the startup Rek to stop holding or promoting robot vs. human fights in the state unless it gets official approval.

What happened

California’s State Athletic Commission sent a cease-and-desist letter to Rek, a startup that describes itself as a “humanoid robot fighting league.” The letter says Rek cannot hold, promote, or advertise any boxing or mixed martial arts match or exhibition involving any human in California without the commission’s approval.

The warning follows a fight held on September 18 between a human, Frankie LaPenna, and a humanoid robot owned by Rek. According to The New York Times, the robot was controlled by a person using a remote virtual-reality system, which is like using a headset and controls to “drive” the robot from a distance, similar to a very advanced remote control.

Rek’s CEO, Cix Liv, posted the letter on X on September 30 and referred to the fight as “unsanctioned,” meaning it did not have the regulator’s sign-off. Rek’s next planned event is scheduled for Friday and is expected to feature two robots fighting each other with weapons, rather than a robot fighting a person.

Why it matters

This is a reminder that fights involving people are regulated in California, even if a robot is involved. For the public, the main issue is safety and oversight, like requiring referees, medical checks, and rules that are meant to reduce serious injuries. If more entertainment companies start mixing robots with human combat sports, state regulators will likely decide where to draw the line and what requires a permit.

Source: The Verge AI