Allegedly trashing Airbnbs to test robots puts startup in legal trouble

An Airbnb host has sued robotics startup The Bot Company over alleged damage during a two-week robot-testing stay in San Francisco.

The host says employees left extensive property damage, moved belongings, and may have taken items from the home.

The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, raises liability and security concerns around robotics testing in rented homes.

The case could set an example for how hosts and neighbors are protected when startups use private residences for testing.