Chainsaw robot goes viral as California engineer predicts AI future | Latest Tech News
It appears to be like just like the stuff of nightmares.
But Beau G., the 40-year-old California Satyress startup founder, sees his chainsaw-wielding “humanoid” robot — which just went viral on X — as a futuristic helper for all mankind.
Those who have witnessed the 7-foot-tall robotic beast on social media (a post by Drone Wars already racked up 10.9 million views and counting) have had decidedly combined reactions — with panic and humor largely flooding the zone.
AI generated memes, such as a pic of the “centaur” bot holding a chainsaw in entrance of flames with the chilling accompanying textual content, “I’m here to save you” — seems to be a fan favourite.
In the times since Threehalves, tech entrepeneur Beau G.’s humanoid, satyress robot has gone viral online, the creation has receieved polarizing reactions. X/@Matt321492814
Beau’s final purpose for Threehalves is for it to support in making forestry practices safer for employees. X/@Polymarket
Illustration of the Threehalves robot with uncovered air reservoirs, a pistol, a knife, and an E-stop button. Satyress
Many have been fast to misgender the bot too, but Beau says the Satyress, for which the clanker company is called, is the feminine model of the legendary creature — primarily a woman faun. And it’s pronounced see-dar-is, in case you have been questioning.
“I think humanoid robots are an inevitability from the tech progress standpoint,” Beau, who selected not to disclose his full last identify to shield his day job as an engineer, solely told The Post. “The dream of [these] robots are sidekicks that are interesting, fun and useful — and, like a car is today, something that says something about the owner. Not something like a phone, which is pure utility.”
“Aw hell nah,” replied one account to the flame-enhanced pic of the robot.
“Coming to theaters near you,” quipped another.
Beau gave the horned robot the official identify of Threehalves, due to its legendary anatomic make-up of being “half human, half goat and half horse.” He says the bot is being created for the final word objective of making common forestry practices safer, utilizing a teleoperation-focused strategy, that means it is going to be managed by a human utilizing a joystick, primarily.
people suppose this factor appears to be like terrifying
but the centaur is definitely a goated robotics design
> it combines all the benefits of a humanoid higher physique AND a quadruped decrease physique
> the humanoid half has human attain
> so it may well interface with instruments + environments designed for… https://t.co/cdaKPlaBnY pic.twitter.com/sBx9MSy5VM
— Ole Lehmann (@itsolelehmann) July 30, 2026
“[We want to] make the forestry and line clearing industry a bit safer and you know more effective, I guess you could say. So, same workers. Your bot picks up a chainsaw. You’re doing the same job you already know, but you don’t have to worry about dropping a dead tree limb on yourself,” he told The Post.
Having initially printed his Satyress company web site for the creation back in 2025, he emphasised that the new, surprising hit of viral curiosity in Threehalves has felt “quite interesting.”
“It seems like people quite like it or quite don’t like it, which is great,” he said.
He also shared that he understands that many people are coming to the concept with various levels of skepticism, with some questioning if the creation is even real.
While Beau clarified that Threehalves is at the moment in the prototype stage, he emphasised that the concept is actively turning into a completed, working bot.
“I think everyone should assume every humanoid robot is at least somewhat fake until they see it in person…I think it’s good to treat it with skepticism,” he added.
The thought for the safety-aid humanoid got here to the tech entrepreneur and engineer, who had grown up tinkering with robots but had largely given up the interest in maturity, about 4 years in the past, though its first seeds have been planted two years prior.
In 2020, he obtained concerned with tree care after a big storm knocked down some large oaks on his then-new property close to the Tahoe National Forest.
To the questions in this thread about the need of the horns – we place cameras there so we are able to see the positions of all limbs and instruments, provides a layer of redundancy in case theres points with encoders on the actuators. Thanks all for the curiosity in our robot. pic.twitter.com/EphuODAtBD
— satyress (@satyressrobots) July 29, 2026
In 2022, he discovered himself noticing the overwhelming quantity of contract work that utility giant PG&E was endeavor in order to preserve establishment tree clearance from energy traces, which may trigger wildfires.
At around the same time, he noticed an rising availability of bigger, cheaper actuators (the mechanical half of a gadget that turns power into bodily motion, and that drives the limbs on a robot), main to his want and capacity to actively start working on the project.
For the last yr and a half, he has now been working to make Threehalves a purposeful being, having lately been joined by a fellow engineer good friend/new business accomplice. G. estimated that he’s spent “$150,000 or more” just in elements and gear” on bringing his satyress to life.
Beau estimates that the project has price him roughly $150,000 to date. Satyress
Would you let the bot in? Satyress
Ultimately, his imaginative and prescient for Threehalves — which is still a prototype as of now, without hooked up, working legs — is for it to improve the lives of forestry employees. By holding and utilizing large chainsaws itself, permitting employees to control and see it with a joystick/digicam from a distance (very like sure drones), he hopes to make use of Threehalves to make their jobs considerably safer and less annoying.
“I hope to be able to find these win-wins — where the job is more enjoyable for the people doing it, because they’re not breaking their backs or risking their own necks,” said Beau. “They’re making more money [too], because the money is not just going directly into workers’ comp insurance or payouts for that…That’s the world I’m trying to look at.”
Download The California Post App, comply with us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTookay, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTookay, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up right here!
California Post App: Download right here!
Home supply: Sign up right here!
Page Six Hollywood: Sign up right here!
Stay informed with the latest in tech! Our web site is your trusted source for breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, gadget launches, software program updates, cybersecurity, and digital innovation.
For contemporary insights, skilled coverage, and trending tech updates, go to us usually by clicking right here.
