In recent days, a video recorded in the Chinese province of Sichuan has provoked a mixture of surprise, humor and bewilderment. In it appears a kneeling humanoid robot, with his hands together in a prayerful gesture, bowing to passers-by as if asking for alms. The robot, accompanied by an LED panel and a speaker, repeated an unusual message: he said he had no money to recharge his battery and asked for help to pay “the electricity bills.” Next t…