At your service: Hong Kong welcomes first humanoid robot-run convenience stores

Hong Kong is set to launch its first convenience stores run by humanoid robots later this week, with the company behind the innovative concept planning to expand to about ten more locations in the city as it marks the start of its international expansion. The opening ceremony took place on Monday, and the first "Galbot stores" will open in Hung Hom, Kai Tak, and Wan Chai the following day, representing the company's inaugural international ventures beyond mainland China.

Established in 2023, the Beijing-based embodied-intelligence robotics company has already opened around 200 outlets across 50 cities in mainland China.

Galbot's chief strategy officer, Zhao Yuli, emphasized that Hong Kong serves as a crucial platform for China to engage with the international market, highlighting the importance of this project for the company's overseas strategy. The stores will be powered by wheeled humanoid robots equipped with the company's AstraBrain foundation model, capable of taking orders, delivering goods, and preparing drinks using a linked coffee machine, though human attendants will still be needed for certain tasks, including replenishment.

The robots can operate autonomously for extended hours, potentially extending store operating hours where staffing during off-hours is challenging.

Each Galbot store will offer a unique shopping experience, featuring drinks, food, and cultural products. Residents will be able to engage with the robot in Cantonese, adding a local touch to the store experience. The company has already won multiple awards in the retail category at the World Humanoid Robot Games, demonstrating the robots' capabilities in restocking shelves, managing inventory, and identifying misplaced items.

While high rents and labor costs are concerns, Zhao expressed confidence in the company's investment strategy, estimating that Galbot stores would become profitable within 12 to 18 months, a timeframe she considers common for traditional brick-and-mortar retail establishments. In Beijing and Jiangxi, where the company operates cultural and creative merchandise linked to local landmarks, foot traffic in these stores has increased by 20 to 30 percent over the past year.

The autonomous robots have proven effective in extending operating hours, as demonstrated by the success of Galbot's smart-pharmacy deployments on the mainland, which operate 24/7 across multiple cities.