Around thirty robots demonstrated on Monday in Warsaw in front of the Ministry of Digitalisation, demanding the creation of regulations for the workplace use of artificial intelligence. The protest was organised by the movement Democratism, which said it wants to spark discussion about the social and economic consequences of automation amplified by AI.
Organisers' aims and comments
Democratism said it intends to focus primarily on the question of whether humanoid robots and AI-driven automation in knowledge work could replace human jobs. "We primarily want to address the issue of potential displacement of people, both by humanoid robots and by artificial intelligence in intellectual positions," said Grzegorz Kulis, one of the protest organisers.
According to the information provided at the event, Kulis currently serves as the IT director of a robotics company and as CEO of a labour recruitment agency; he has previously worked with the Labour Market Council that advises the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy. He said he finds the technological changes that threaten a labour-based social order alarming.
The demonstration and the robots involved
The machines taking part ranged from bipedal humanoids to four-legged, dog-like robots. They marched through the street, waved flags, chanted slogans and used loudspeakers to broadcast their demands: "Protect jobs!", "Time to set the rules!" and "Don't delay regulation!". An Agibot A3 present at the protest explained that the aim was to show the technology is already a reality.
Kulis warned: "If a robot is several times more efficient and cheaper, few company leaders will insist on continuing to employ people," pointing to cost and efficiency incentives that may accelerate automation.
Political response and regulatory steps
Krzysztof Gawkowski, the Minister of Digitalisation, also met the robots at the event. He highlighted concerns about unchecked AI models embedded in humanoid robots, saying these models—which develop further as robotisation advances—pose serious problems.
As a related regulatory measure, President Karol Nawrocki signed a government bill in July intended to implement the European Union’s artificial intelligence legislation in Poland. The law establishes a national authority tasked with enforcing the already adopted EU rules.
Why it matters
The protest underscores an ongoing societal debate about the relationship between the labour market and automation: civil movements, business actors and government policymakers view the dynamics from different perspectives. The question of regulation becomes more urgent if advances in robotics and AI accelerate the pace and scope of job automation.
The demonstration serves as another signal to policymakers that the social impacts of technological change should be managed within regulatory frameworks designed to protect workers and the public interest.
Tags: European Union, artificial intelligence, labour market, Poland, automation, robotics, protest, regulation, humanoid robot, Karol Nawrocki
