This Convenience Store Has No Human Workers, Just One Humanoid Robot Running The Show

Imagine

entering a convenience store to grab a snack and you are being served by only a humanoid robot. This futuristic experience is reportedly becoming a reality in Hong Kong, where a new store is gearing up to operate without any human workers on site.

Robot To Take Charge Of Daily Operations

As per a report by the South China Morning Post, a new 24-hour convenience store on Hong Kong’s Hung Hom waterfront will be run by a single humanoid robot named Xiao Gai. This store is being launched as a portable ‘capsule’ retail outlet and is said to be the first convenience store of its kind in the city. Xiao Gai is developed by a Beijing-based AI and robotics firm Galbot. This humanoid stands around 5 feet 6 inches tall and has a wide arm span that lets it perform many tasks inside the store.What Can Xiao Gai Do?According to Inside Retail, the humanoid robot will be responsible for stocking shelves, selecting products and assisting customers checkout. The robot maker reportedly says the humanoid can also hold simple conversations and communicate in various languages. Customers will reportedly be able to purchase a range of products, including beverages, snacks and over the counter medicines. Moreover, Galbot also reportedly suggests that the unusual shopping experience may increase visitor numbers in the area by as much as 40 per cent.

Despite the excitement around the humanoid running the business, previous incidents in the past have raised questions about how reliably robots can manage real-world tasks. Earlier this year, Starbucks reportedly terminated an AI-powered inventory program just nine months after deploying in Northern American stores, as per Reuters. Reportedly, the AI-powered tools could not even identify milk types and mislabeled many products. As a result, the company had to switch back to the way the stores were running previously. For now, Xiao Gai's store may attract curious visitors as much as regular shoppers. Whether it becomes a model for the future of retail or simply a fascinating experiment, only time could tell.