Humanoid Robots Set to Enter Japanese Convenience Stores
Humanoid robots capable of stocking shelves, managing inventory, packaging products, and serving customers in more than 20 languages were showcased at an international retail industry event in Tokyo on October 8, highlighting the growing potential of artificial intelligence to transform store operations as Japan struggles with chronic labor shortages. (News On Japan)
On October 8, humanoid robots capable of performing tasks like stocking shelves, managing inventory, packaging products, and serving customers in over 20 languages were displayed at an international retail industry event in Tokyo. The showcase of physical AI, a technology combining AI with robotic systems, aimed to demonstrate the potential of artificial intelligence to transform store operations amid Japan's chronic labor shortages.
The event featured over 30 companies presenting technologies designed to reshape the shopping experience and improve business efficiency, with Japan and other Asian countries represented. One of the main exhibits was the C1, a store-oriented humanoid robot developed by CP AI Robotics in Thailand. This robot can identify individual products, manage inventory, transport merchandise, replenish shelves, pack purchased items into bags, and communicate in more than 20 languages using facial expressions and gestures.
CP AI Robotics plans to deploy the C1 in Japanese convenience stores as early as 2027 to address staffing difficulties. Weidong Sun, the company's representative, stated that introducing one or more robots per store could alleviate operational burdens, enhance security during nighttime hours, and improve customer service. The humanoid robots were showcased alongside entertainments like dance performances, contrasting with conventional industrial robots that follow predetermined instructions.
Experts believe that rather than replacing employees, these robots will work alongside humans, focusing on repetitive and physically demanding tasks while humans concentrate on customer relationships and other cognitive tasks. The commercial deployment in Japan is expected to begin in 2027, and the technology's success will depend on its reliability, operational efficiency, and customer acceptance.
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