It may sound like a scene from a sci-fi movie but a new café in Kilimani, Nairobi, is running its restaurant using robots to serve customers, with people controlling them remotely, with remarkable efficiency in handling orders and delivering food to clients.
Since its opening on Father's Day, June 16, Kenya’s first robot cafe has become a popular spot, serving tasty food and drinks, making it a great place to relax and enjoy a delicious meal while experiencing the modern concept of robot-assisted dining.
Located on Lana Plaza in Nairobi, Robot Cafe promises to offer a futuristic dining experience that combines technology and leisure, making it an ideal destination for families. The eatery becomes the first in Kenya to rely on the use of robot employees, marking a significant shift in how we think about service in hospitality.
These automated assistants, equipped with advanced technologies, are revolutionising the way food is delivered to tables, offering a glimpse into the future of dining.
They are equipped with built-in trays designed to receive food orders directly from the kitchen staff. Once loaded, the robot seamlessly navigates the bustling environment of the restaurant, making its way to the designated table where customers eagerly await their meals.
The process is fluid and swift, minimising the wait time and ensuring that food arrives hot and fresh.
The technology behind these robots is nothing short of impressive. At the core of their operation is self-driving technology, a marvel of modern engineering. These robots are powered by artificial intelligence that enhances their ability to avoid obstacles, a crucial feature in the dynamic and often crowded spaces of restaurants.
Whether it’s manoeuvring around tables, dodging chairs, or avoiding human traffic, the robots exhibit a level of precision and adaptability that ensures a smooth and uninterrupted service.
Beyond just serving food, one outstanding feature of the robotic servers is that they have been programmed to greet customers, host, attend birthdays, or or whatever occasion that might be there. It will come and sing for you.
The integration of AI is beyond just navigation. For instance, if a customer has booked a table for a special occasion, the robot can recognise this and deliver a customised experience, whether it’s a birthday greeting or a special song. This highlights the versatility of these robots, capable of not only delivering food, but also enhancing the dining experience by providing personalised interactions.
Mohammed Abbas, the general manager, explained that the robots cost around Sh676, 600- the same as the yearly pay for a human employee.
The futuristic machines have a limited vocabulary and take two hours to charge enough to complete a five-hour shift but they give an insight into how far robot technology has come.
In the future, the eatery promises to use the robots to cook basic meals, offering a glimpse into the future of dining.
The use of AI in hospitality in Africa is creating high-tech hotels that lower management costs and improve efficiency, replacing manual work with systems and robots. Facial recognition check-in in hotels is becoming a reality in Africa, and the use of AI-powered computers that mine data provide tailored customer experiences.
Further adoption of AI and robotics indicates that by supplementing human skill sets with technology, employees will have more time and opportunities to deliver genuine hospitable service. By decreasing the individual’s work and emotional load, this will improve organisational performance and ultimately guest satisfaction.
To successfully integrate non-human employees into a team, it is essential for companies to ensure that all parties involved in the new technologies understand the changes in the operation and the influences on guest experiences.
Developing guidelines, ethical principles and a code of conduct will be critical to address adverse impacts on the social part of the human-robot interactions, for example, naming or addressing robots, social norms and values towards the robots, but also the extent of encouraging the integration of the new team member.
The future is here. Instead of fearing the change, fearing the unknown, technological advancements should be embraced. Not without caution though, but through an informed manner where one has a choice. The “rise of the machines” should be seen as an exciting opportunity not only for the hospitality industry, but for all businesses and humankind.
The writer is a data scientist pursuing a MSc in artificial intelligence at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He can be reached at [email protected]; @kennedykwangari
