Robot waiters in Kenya create a buzz. But there are concerns about what it means for human labor

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Children giggle as young people flash their smartphones to film robots carrying plates of freshly prepared meals on their inbuilt trays to deliver to diners in a busy eatery in Kenya's capital.

Nairobi has a vibrant tech industry with various startups and innovations in operation and has positioned itself as a tech hub in the East African region bearing the nickname The Silicone Savanna.

This is the Robot Cafe, believed to be the first of its kind in Nairobi and East Africa, where three robots glide among human waiters serving food to mesmerized customers.

These preprogrammed robots were acquired for entertainment. Cafe owner Mohammed Abbas says he experienced robot service in Asian and European countries and decided to invest in them.

“It was very expensive to import the robots,” he says, but adds that the investment has borne fruit, because the restaurant is “often busy with curious customers” who come to experience robot service.

One customer, Packson Chege, picks up a plate of fries from the robot tray as his friend films the experience across the table.

“I can say it is something unique because here in our country Kenya, I have never seen a restaurant like this one so I think for me, it is a good idea from the owner of this restaurant,” he said.

The three robots, which are named Claire, R24 and Nadia, aren't programmed to have a full conversation with customers, but they can say “Your order is ready, Welcome” and then people have to press an exit button after picking up their food from the tray.

They are commanded by waiters through an application on an iPad.

Human waiters are still important in the operations of the cafe, because they take orders from customers who don't use the online ordering option. The waiters then place the food on the robot tray when it’s ready and deliver drinks in person.

The technology is predicted to disrupt the future workforce globally, and especially in Africa, where there is a youthful population with a median age of 19 years.

But the cafe's manager says the robots aren't a replacement for human waiters as they can't offer all services.

“At no point are the robots able to fully function in all the services that are supposed to be ongoing in the restaurant without the human touch," John Kariuki said. "The robots are actually way too expensive for us to acquire, so if you are trying to save money, it is not going to work if you choose to go the robotic way.”

A hospitality industry expert, Edith Ojwang, said that there’s room for robotic and human service to coexist in the industry.

“The hospitality industry is very diverse. We have clients who will prefer robotic service and full automation, while we also have clients who will prefer human service, the human touch and warmth that comes with human service so it is not entirely a threat to human labor because of the diverse nature of the hospitality client base,” she said.

Robotic waiter serves customers at a Robot Cafe in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. The three robots, christened Claire, R24 and Nadia, are not programmed to have a full conversation with customers, but they can say "Your order is ready, Welcome" then people have to press an exit button after picking up their food from the tray. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Robotic waiters stand at the Robot Cafe in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. The three robots, christened Claire, R24 and Nadia, are not programmed to have a full conversation with customers, but they can say "Your order is ready, Welcome" then people have to press an exit button after picking up their food from the tray. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Robotic waiter Claire, delivers an order to customers at the Robot Cafe in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. The three robots, christened Claire, R24 and Nadia, are not programmed to have a full conversation with customers, but they can say "Your order is ready, Welcome" then people have to press an exit button after picking up their food from the tray. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Robotic waiter Claire, receives an order from a human waiter to deliver to customers at the Robot Cafe in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. The three robots, christened Claire, R24 and Nadia, are not programmed to have a full conversation with customers, but they can say "Your order is ready, Welcome" then people have to press an exit button after picking up their food from the tray. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Robotic waiter Claire, delivers an order to customers at the Robot Cafe in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. The three robots, christened Claire, R24 and Nadia, are not programmed to have a full conversation with customers, but they can say "Your order is ready, Welcome" then people have to press an exit button after picking up their food from the tray. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Robotic waiter Claire, receives an order from a human waiter to deliver to customers at the Robot Cafe in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. The three robots, christened Claire, R24 and Nadia, are not programmed to have a full conversation with customers, but they can say "Your order is ready, Welcome" then people have to press an exit button after picking up their food from the tray. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Robotic waiters serve customers at Robot Cafe in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. Robot Café, is first of a kind in Nairobi and East Africa, where three robots glide among human waiters serving food to mesmerized customers. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Robotic waiter stands beside the counter, at Robot Cafe in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. The three robots, christened Claire, R24 and Nadia, are not programmed to have a full conversation with customers, but they can say "Your order is ready, Welcome" then people have to press an exit button after picking up their food from the tray. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Robotic waiter Claire, delivers an order to customers at the Robot Cafe in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. The three robots, christened Claire, R24 and Nadia, are not programmed to have a full conversation with customers, but they can say "Your order is ready, Welcome" then people have to press an exit button after picking up their food from the tray. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Robotic waiters stand at Robot Cafe in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. The three robots, christened Claire, R24 and Nadia, are not programmed to have a full conversation with customers, but they can say "Your order is ready, Welcome" then people have to press an exit button after picking up their food from the tray. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Robotic waiter serves customers at a Robot Cafe in Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. The three robots, christened Claire, R24 and Nadia, are not programmed to have a full conversation with customers, but they can say "Your order is ready, Welcome" then people have to press an exit button after picking up their food from the tray. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

GAINESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Alison Lee sparked a shirtless caddie celebration by spinning a wedge into the cup for eagle. Andrea Lee holed a bunker shot to set up Rose Zhang’s walk-off eagle one hole later. And Megan Khang paused for 10 seconds to let gravity help her out on a critical birdie putt.

The wait was worth it for the United States, which maintained a four-point lead over Europe in the Solheim Cup on Saturday.

With top-ranked Nelly Korda getting an afternoon break after winning the leadoff point in three consecutive sessions of team matches, U.S. captain Stacy Lewis watched her role players excel, and the Americans concluded a warm, breezy day at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club with a 10-6 advantage.

“They’re playing the way I expected them to play, so I’m not surprised at all,” Lewis said. “But at the same time, to do it on this stage and in these moments and to pull these shots off and to make the putts and to do it with the joy that they’re doing it with, it’s the coolest part to me.”

Europe, which has captured the Solheim Cup the last three times, won the last two matches to conclude a 4-4 day. But the team in royal blue and yellow will need its largest comeback in Sunday singles to make it a record four in a row. The U.S. rallied from four points down to win in Germany in 2015.

The U.S. needs 4 1/2 points from a dozen singles matches to win the cup, and Europe needs eight points to retain it. Captain Suzann Pettersen drew inspiration from the European Ryder Cup team's rally from the same deficit to win at Medinah in 2012.

“I was on the opposite side in Germany, and I know what it feels like,” Pettersen said. “Everyone remembers Medinah. I mean, it’s a tough task.”

Lewis has relied on data to find the right combinations, whether keeping Korda and Allisen Corpuz together for alternate shot; sending rookie Lauren Coughlin out with three partners; or giving Zhang a comfortable pairing with Andrea Lee, her fellow Stanford Cardinal.

“I know their games backwards and forwards, and it’s allowed me to create some really good pairings,” Lewis said.

Korda and Corpuz fell behind early against Carlota Ciganda and Emily Pedersen but turned it around on the back nine and got a break when Corpuz hit a worm-burner of a fairway wood into the par-5 14th hole that avoided the water and settled within 20 feet. Korda put her hands on her head in disbelief and Lewis gave Corpuz a shoulder rub in the fairway.

Korda holed the putt for eagle, her second in a row on a hole the U.S. has dominated, and she and Corpuz became the first American duo to go 4-0 in foursomes after winning twice last year in Spain.

“The Americans have played unbelievable. I don’t know how many eagles they’ve had. It seems like they’ve had double figures,” Hall of Famer and European assistant captain Laura Davies said. “They’ve just played great golf. Out-putted us at the moment. Deep squad of players. We’ll never say never, but it is going to be very, very difficult to get the cup back.”

A day after transportation problems prevented most fans from getting to the golf course for the opening tee shots, a situation that LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan took responsibility for, the grandstands surrounding the first tee were full and fans lined the gallery ropes shortly after 7 a.m.

The only thing that kept them quiet was a slow start by the Americans, but it got loud once Korda started rolling.

In the first afternoon better-ball match, Anna Nordqvist and Madelene Sagstrom were 2 down to Khang and Alison Lee when Nordqvist birdied the par-3 11th hole. Khang's tying putt hung on the lip for 10 seconds before dropping, and she confirmed with a rules official that she had not waited too long for the ball to move.

Needing two putts to win the 14th, Khang made her 15-footer for eagle anyway, setting up the latest fist-pumping celebration for the Americans’ loudest cheerleader, who was next to the green in a cowboy hat when Corpuz hit her approach hours earlier.

Khang and Lee closed it out on the next hole for a 4-and-3 victory, Lee's first in a Solheim Cup match since 2015. She gave the U.S. an early lead with her wedge from 86 yards for an eagle 2 on the second hole, and the Americans’ caddies stripped from the waist up and chest-bumped to pay off a bet with Lee that they agreed to on the tee box.

“Literally holed out five minutes after that conversation. Great motivation,” Lee said.

Zhang and Andrea Lee never trailed in their 6-and-4 victory over Linn Grant and Celine Boutier. Zhang, the youngest U.S. player at 21 who had a forgettable Solheim debut last year, joined Korda and Coughlin by winning all three of her matches.

Pettersen benched Leona Maguire, a valuable contributor in the last two Solheim Cups who has played poorly this year, for both sessions. Rookie Albane Valenzuela also sat out all day, while Charley Hull and Pedersen played four matches each.

Hull delivered. The excitable English player hit a 300-yard-plus drive on the par-4 18th to set up a wedge to tap-in range by Esther Henseleit for a 1-up victory in foursomes over Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho, then did it again as she and Georgia Hall beat Corpuz and Lilia Vu 2 up in better ball.

Lexi Thompson improved her record in alternate shot to 7-2-1 in what is likely her final Solheim Cup, teaming with the unbeaten Coughlin to make four birdies in six holes on the back nine and beat Maja Stark and Hall, 4 and 3.

Thompson and Ewing were beaten 2 and 1 by Ciganda and Pedersen in fourballs. Ewing has lost her last six Solheim Cup matches.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Europe's Anna Nordqvist hits from a bunker on the 15th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Rose Zhang smiles after winning a fourball match on the 14th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Europe's Emily Pedersen celebrates winning a fourball match during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

United States' Rose Zhang celebrates after hitting out of a bunker and into the cup on the 13th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Rose Zhang, right, is congratulated by teammate United States' Andrea Lee after hitting out of a bunker and into the cup on the 13th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Alison Lee, center, reacts flanked by celebrating caddies after finding the cup from the fairway on the second hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Megan Khang celebrates after making a putt on the 14th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament fourball match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Europe's Anna Nordqvist hits from the fifth tee during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Lexi Thompson smiles after winning a foursome match during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Lauren Coughlin hits from a bunker on the 10th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Ally Ewing hits from the 18th fairway during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Europe's Esther Henseleit celebrates after winning a foursome match during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Europe's Charley Hull celebrates after winning a foursome match during a Solheim Cup golf tournament at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Nelly Korda hits from the first fairway during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Nelly Korda celebrates after sinking a putt on the 10th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)

United States' Nelly Korda, left, is celebrates with teammate Allisen Corpuz after sinking a putt on the 10th hole during a Solheim Cup golf tournament foursome match at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Gainesville, Va. (AP Photo/Matt York)