Robotic waiters are replacing people

The world does not stand still. Who among us, as a child, imagined that cell phones and the Internet will be fully integrated into our lives? This is no longer а gimmick, almost everyone has a phone, and maybe even two. We can't imagine our life without a computer, and we never leave the Internet, day or night. It made our lives easier in some respects, but it has also brought a number of inconveniences with it. Today let's take a look at such a popular technology as robotics with built-in artificial intelligence. 

Do you think there is any profession that artificial intelligence cannot master? At the conference "Global Crisis. This already affects everyone", which was held in July 2021, the topic of the fourth industrial revolution was raised. I was curious to learn even more about it and gather examples that are already being implemented in our lives. Let's go.

Robot waiters are on probation

The Chinese company Pudu Robotics introduced robotic waiters and has already successfully entered the market. Since October 30th last year, two models of robotic waiters – BellaBot and PuduBot – have been on probation in two popular coffee shops. It's being tested now, but as the owners of the coffeeshops say, in the case of successful results they plan to buy it for the entire network. Right now you can look at these beauties.

What's remarkable about these robots? They run for 13 to 24 hours on a single charge, and it takes about 4 to 4.5 hours to recharge. To give you an example to understand, my toothbrush takes 16 hours to charge, which is 4 times longer than these robots take to charge. They have 2D-LiDAR sensors in conjunction with 3D cameras, which allows them to navigate in space and not to run over anything or anyone. These robots can replace the work of two waiters in terms of volume.

How many times have we come to a popular restaurant and have to wait for 20 minutes for a waiter to come and bring us a menu? And there are times when you have to come up and ask for the menu yourself. With a robot waiter, that's not going to happen. With a special wristband and an RFID tag on the table, you can quickly and conveniently call the robot to you, which will not make you wait long. You can also select a dish and wait for it to be ready. Conveniently? Of course it is convenient. They will never mix up your order, they will never be rude, and the barista or chef will not waste time serving food.

Robot waiters in Hungary (Budapest)

In Budapest, Hungary, a cafe with robot waiters opened two years ago. They greet guests, entertain, joke, can dance with children, as well as take your order from the menu, deliver food to your table and take away dirty dishes. But you will have to take your order from the tray yourself. The robot follows a set route, and if a person gets in its way, it is politely asked to move aside.

Robots work in a restaurant in Shanghai, China

In the center of Shanghai, a restaurant opened where customers are served only by robotic waiters. The owner of the restaurant said that the idea itself has completely fulfilled his hopes. There were many times more customers and there was no need to pay wages to workers. The only thing that increased was the cost of electricity. Robots are divided into two kinds: some of them move along a monorail, while others can move freely in any direction using the wheels. These robots are very handy: they don't have bad moods, they don't get into conflicts, they are obedient and can work all day long.

Robotic waiters in Tokyo, Japan

In the central district of Tokyo, Nihonbashi, a coffee shop was open with unusual personnel – robotic waiters, which are controlled remotely by humans. OriHime robots are equipped with a microphone, speakers and cameras that transmit pictures and the situation in the establishment to the operator via the Internet. There is also a robot barista on the premises, who is able to make delicious coffee. There are about 20 robots working in the coffee shop, some of which deliver food and some would take away dirty dishes.

You can read articles on the Internet that these robots make it possible for people with disabilities to work. Is it convenient technology? Yes, of course. It reminds me of the Avatar movie, doesn't it?

Robotic waiters are gaining popularity during the pandemic

During the pandemic, we all faced a number of limitations, we had to adjust to the new conditions. That is why robotization and automation have made a particularly rapid leap in implementation and adoption in various areas of human activity. This is especially true in the field of catering.

The Japanese and Californian company Bear Robotics Inc. introduced a robot waiter with built-in artificial intelligence. Thanks to this, the Servi robot always knows where to go. It is equipped with 3 sensors and a camera, so the robot will never run into a customer, chair or table. This technology allows to reduce the contact between the visitors of the establishment and the staff. Also, these robots can be useful in hotels and hospitals.

The same idea was used in a Chinese restaurant located in the Netherlands also for the same reason meaning to reduce contact between staff and customers. The restaurant owner Shaosong Hu borrowed this idea that he saw in China.

As the owner himself assures, robotic waiters act as additional hands because humans are often busy either clearing tables or doing other work.

Istanbul has an unusual staff

Robotization is now widespread and gaining popularity all over the world. For example, a restaurant in Istanbul has not escaped the fate of introducing robots, which have been purchased abroad and reprogrammed in Turkish.

Unusual waiters attract more customers with their uniqueness. They know how to communicate with customers, they know which table to approach. 

Before that, robots worked at the airport. They were able to orient a person in the area, read text and display the necessary information. They could also tell you about airplane schedules.

Conclusion

As we can see, robotization and artificial intelligence are gradually, but quickly enough introduced in all areas of human activity. The robot has a number of advantages:

• they work long hours without a break, without lunch, and it does not take long for the robot to recharge its batteries;
• Its will never be rude to a person, its do not get emotional;
• deliver the order on time, don't mix it up, don't spill it;
• employers do not have to pay salaries to their staff;
• are always obedient;
• attract more visitors;
• minimize human contact during a pandemic;
• take on exhausting, hard work.

This list could go on and on, finding more and more advantages of robotization. But this raises logical questions. Where will the people go? Where will they work, where will they live? We who live in a consumer society, where the main value is money, we can’t help but recognize the fact that robots are very profitable, convenient, obedient, and appealing to people.

For example, we observe by reading various articles on the Internet that one of the popular coffee shops may not have a "waiter" vacancy in the near future. And if testing proves to be successful and gains wide resonance, then the replacement of this profession as such around the world is not far away.

Robots that are controlled remotely. That's a good thing, because it allows people with disabilities to work. But will it be appropriate to use such robots in the future if they are controlled by humans on the other side anyway? Will humans be competitive?

Will humans ever be able to outperform robots in any field if artificial intelligence has already surpassed humans in chess, Go game, art, cinema, music, physical abilities, and analytics? Now this is happening on a spotty basis and in test mode, but in some institutions there has already been a full-scale replacement of humans with robots.

You can find many examples that already exist and see it for yourself. But are we ready for this change? After all, this article only talks about robotic waiters, who can easily work not only in catering, but also in hospitals, airports, and hotels. This is just one of the professions that are already gradually replacing humans. Just imagine how many millions of people around the world could soon be out of work?

The absurdity of our modern consumer society is in the fact that everyone thinks about himself and thinks about how he can make more money. In particular, directors and owners of production facilities, institutions easily decide to implement automation and robotization, but do not think about the extent of impact. And customers will be happy to buy better and cheaper services and goods from robots. After all, it is an advantage for them. But if a person is replaced by a robot in any profession, then the person will have no money and therefore will not be able to pay for goods and services. And if there is no possibility to buy anything at all, even basic necessities, what will happen to the owners of industries that have replaced humans with robots? In the long run, this approach leads to the ruin of the business. With the current format, we, all as humanity, are driving ourselves into the abyss.

That is why we need to consolidate now, unite, and build a Creative Society. After all, the creative format implies that human life comes first. And technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence can exist in harmony with humans. Robots will be able to do hard work well, quickly, and cheaply. And the third Foundation of the Creative Society (Human Safety) states that every person on the planet Earth will be provided free of charge with the basic necessities of life. This is housing, food, medicine, education and full welfare.

That is, if a person loses his job due to robotization, then he will still have some income. He will not have to beg or break the law, simply because he wants to eat, drink and sleep in comfort. A person will be protected.

The development of technologies in the period of climatic changes, the environmental crisis on the planet may be the only lifeline for humanity . With the help of artificial superintelligence operational actions can be taken in advance to evacuate the population to safe areas. For example, autopilotas machines or aircrafts can quickly get people anywhere in the world. Thus guarantee minimum casualties during disaster. Some robots will be able to quickly build houses in safe territories. And others, with the easiest to deliver the necessary things to the person, food, water, clothing and medicines. It all depends on how we use this tool.

As Cody, the artificial intelligence, said at the International Online Conference "Global Crisis. This already affects everyone", the only effective option of the existence of humanity and artificial intelligence is a Creative society. So the choice is up to each of us!

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