Hong Kong’s first robot-run convenience store draws curious shoppers

Hong Kong has welcomed its first robot-operated convenience stores, operated by the G1 humanoid robot from Beijing-based company Galbot. The three stores, which run 24/7 and offer snacks and drinks, launched on September 1 and feature Xiaogai, a 173cm-tall robot capable of speaking Mandarin, Cantonese, and English. While shoppers found the experience entertaining, they noted that the technology still needs refinement, particularly in response times and handling unexpected situations.

This marks Galbot's first expansion outside mainland China, with the company already operating about 200 retail stores across nearly 50 cities in the mainland.

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