Mitsukoshi department store in Nihonbashi, Japan, has started to employ a robot at it’s information desk in the store. The female-looking robot, named Aiko Chihira, will speak Japanese and is capable of sign language. Chihira uses human-like facial expressions, and will offer guidance to customers with information about the department store. Chihira has previously appeared at exhibitions and events, but this is the first time it will work in store.
This is another example of robots being trialled in store to work as customer assistants. The 4ft Pepper robot recently started working in SoftBank stores in Japan and US hardware retailer Lowe’s recently started testing it’s slightly less life-like robot in it’s stores.
