Who doesn't eat Chinese? We may not love everything they offer, but they're quick and easy to cook, not to mention they have huge servings.
But if you ever find yourself in China, you may find something completely different than what you're used to: robots.
Indeed, Chinese restaurants seem to be embracing robotic technologies with more passion than other countries including the United States. So far, we know of two restaurants that have opted to shift from human to AI labor.
One of the newest restaurants to open that have robots is Wall.e. Located in Hefei in Anhui Province, this restaurant certainly got its name and inspiration from the animated film that featured a lone robot left on earth to handle waste disposal.
In the restaurant, you won't find a Wall-e replica, but you still get a sense of what the movie is all about since more than 30 of these waiters are all robots! They are the ones responsible for cooking, baking, taking orders, and delivering Chinese food to your table. The restaurant isn't shabby either since it spans more than 1,500 square meters and accommodates up to 200 customers in any given time.
Meanwhile, there's another robot restaurant in Chengdu. Found in a Ningbo shopping mall, the restaurant features robots equipped with 40 Mandarin phrases to help them converse with the customers and take orders. They also have sensors that guide them across the floor so they don't end up hitting barriers like tables, chairs, and walls.
These robots aren't really cheap. Each of them can cost almost $10,000. However, owners are willing to invest that much money for a variety of reasons.
First, they feel they can save more in terms of labor with these robots. These machines can, after all, work up to 8 hours a day and run only on batteries. They also have a lifespan of 5 years-that's also 5 years of dedicated work, with no leaves. Also, they draw in crowds who are curious to see them.
