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

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

News

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

2024-09-01 12:11 Last Updated At:14:01

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.

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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 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 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, 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, 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, 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, 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 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 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 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 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)

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)

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 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 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, 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, 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, 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, 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 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 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 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 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)

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)

Next Article

Japan's exports hit record high, but trade deficit continues

2025-01-23 13:16 Last Updated At:13:21

TOKYO (AP) — Japan saw record-high exports last year, as its annual trade deficit declined 44% from the previous year, the Finance Ministry reported Thursday.

The trade deficit, which measures the value of exports minus imports, totaled 5.3 trillion yen ($34 billion), according to government data, as imports ballooned on the back of rising energy costs and growing inflation around the world.

Exports from the world’s third-largest economy totaled 107.9 trillion yen ($691 billion), surpassing the 100 trillion yen mark for the second-straight year, and the biggest value on record for comparable data, which dates back to 1979, the ministry said.

Some companies may have sped up their exports in anticipation of potential tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump has said he expects to put 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting Feb. 1. During his campaign, he threatened to impose tariffs on imports from China, although details on that remain unclear.

For the month of December, exports gained a greater-than-expected 2.8% on-year, while imports rose 1.8%. Exports grew to Asian and European nations, while dipping slightly to the U.S.

Imports grew most from India, Hong Kong and Iran.

Demand was especially strong for Japan's vehicles, semiconductors and other machinery.

The weakening yen, another recent trend, has the effect of inflating the value of imports. The U.S. dollar has been hovering at 150-yen levels, sometimes surpassing 160 yen, over the past year, while a year ago it was often at 140-yen levels.

Japan has recorded a trade deficit for four straight years, but last year's deficit was considerably smaller than the 9.5 trillion yen deficit for 2023.

FILE - Cars for export are parked at a port in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on July 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)

FILE - Cars for export are parked at a port in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on July 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File)

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