Carolyn Marvin was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after blocking the path of an Uber delivery robot and refusing to move out of the way. Marvin told Philadelphia ABC13 “I know they are taking the jobs of human delivery drivers and that’s why I have been protesting against them every time I saw them by standing in front of them and stopping them from moving forward.”
Police responded to the scene and asked Marvin to get out of the robot’s way. When she refused, they handcuffed her and arrested her. The incident was caught on video and has now attracted considerable media attention.
Delivery robots have become a common sight on the streets of downtown Philadelphia and have sparked backlash. This isn’t even Marvin’s first encounter with them. And earlier this year, one was torn down in Center City. Widespread concern has grown about how autonomous systems, including robotaxis, delivery robots and artificial intelligence agents, are impacting jobs, especially for lower-skilled workers.
