Cap Gemini report about humanoids in retail

[limor]

Seeing a report by Cap Gemini about humanoid robots use case in retail is like seeing an advertisement for a self-driving car SLA based subscription service. I just didn't think we were there quite yet. I'm guessing Softbank can afford to have analysts cover the niche sector if they can afford to buy ARM.

https://www.ald.softbankrobotics.com/si ... dustry.pdf

aldebaran-robots.png (230.02 KiB) Viewed 11770 times

[PaulL]

I think their assumptions are naive!! What they're suggesting would be much like a mobile kiosk. If a computer-based stationary kiosk was possible (and clearly, it is), why hasn't this been done already, as a first step? Certainly, it would be cheaper!! Perhaps they'd be better suited by tapping an existing resource for infrastructure - like one's cell phone. It would be handy to have an app, tell it what you want, have it give you a graphic overlay through one's cam of directions on where to go in the store to get there, which shelf, etc, product info, store pricing, etc. Consumer owns the hardware!! Sadly, I think a robot greeter / guide would be more gimmick than real value-add. Wait - in the trend of the trendy, why not have self-driving CARTS in the store that would route customers to their destinations?? They already have scooters in stores, and it is a controlled and closed system, one could do something as simple as a line-following mechanism on the floor... On a more serious note, I think having a LITERAL Spam Bot would be unbelievably annoying!! "You look tired - perhaps you would use a nice hot cup of Super Duper Coffee...", "I see you drove up in an XYZ - have you considered buying a newer car, like an ABC? They have a deal down the street... blah blah blah", or "I know you're here to buy X, but take a look at Y that I've brought you to! Isn't this a nice Y? And check out that PRICE!!", etc, etc.

I think robots have their place, but I don't think customer-facing retail is one of them!! As much as I have an affinity towards robots, I certainly don't want to talk to one that is feeding me spam with a corporate agenda. I think there's value in talking to a person, a creature we know well enough to determine (mostly) whether they're being deceptive or not. Another thought - how many "hate crimes" towards robots would be realized through an ad bot?? Spam ticks me off - I can't imagine how I'd feel if the delivery mechanism for that spam presented itself in physical form!! Such bots should be well wrapped to take a pounding, I'd think!!

[robojohn]

I thinks it's too early for this. I am a huge fan of robots but honestly, I am a little bit scared of it at the same time. I've watched Matrix too many times.