SF startup is testing robots in Airbnbs and trashing them, lawsuit claims

A San Francisco robot startup is accused in a lawsuit of renting an Airbnb under false pretenses to test prototype household robots.

The homeowner says the testing left behind damage and signs of disorder, including a cracked refrigerator shelf and a chipped drawer.

The suit names Bot Company employees and raises questions about deceptive rentals and startup liability.

The case could influence how robot startups test hardware in real homes and who pays for resulting damage.