Hong Kong is preparing to launch an unusual retail object — a 24-hour store where all operations will be performed by a humanoid robot. The project will be the first of its kind experiment in the city and may demonstrate how close we are to the retail of the future.
A new format store fully managed by a robot will soon open on the waterfront of Hung Hom. The retail outlet will operate 24 hours a day and will be located in a compact mobile pavilion.
The main employee of the store will be a humanoid robot named Xiao Gai, developed by the Chinese company Galbot. According to the creators, the robot is capable of restocking shelves, selecting products for customers, and processing transactions at the checkout without human involvement.
The robot stands about 1.68 meters tall, with an arm span of 1.8 meters. These dimensions allow it to move freely in the limited space of the store and perform most standard operations with products.
Xiao Gai's operations are managed by an artificial intelligence system that is responsible not only for task execution but also for communication with visitors. The robot will be able to engage in simple conversations and switch between several languages, serving both locals and tourists.
The store's assortment will include snacks, beverages, essential goods, and over-the-counter medications.
The project's initiators, including the Hong Kong Investment Corporation, view the new retail outlet as a demonstration of the capabilities of artificial intelligence in everyday urban environments. They believe that technologies are gradually moving from the experimental category to full-fledged services for the population.
Galbot believes that this unusual format could increase foot traffic in the area by about 40%. In the future, the developers plan to open up to one hundred similar robotic stores in ten cities.
The project reflects a global trend towards the automation of the service sector. Similar solutions are already being tested in various countries around the world. For example, robotic baggage handling systems are being tested at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, and in several countries, autonomous devices are gradually taking on some of the responsibilities of staff.
At the same time, experts remind us that the technology remains experimental. There have been past instances of service robots malfunctioning and errors in autonomous artificial intelligence systems, raising questions about the reliability of fully automated services.
The opening of a store with a humanoid robot will be one of the most notable experiments in retail in recent years. If the project proves successful, such retail outlets could become a familiar part of urban infrastructure, although the issue of the reliability and safety of such systems remains open.
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