Shanghai store replaces staff w/6 humanoid robots for 24 hours – one walks off the job

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Chinese company AGIBOT conducted an experiment in which six G2 humanoid robots attempted to work a 24-hour shift at a regular convenience store in Shanghai. The trial was livestreamed for 24 hours, but only four of the machines managed to complete it successfully, TechSpot reports.

The robots' duties included restocking shelves, preparing coffee and food, greeting customers, and collecting rubbish. Their performance was compared across different periods, from quiet mornings to the lunchtime rush and overnight shift. Additional challenges were also introduced: for example, participating customers asked the robots to distinguish regular Coca-Cola from its sugar-free version or placed obstacles in their paths.

In total, AGIBOT's robots completed 1,730 tasks, including 683 customer greetings, 369 product retrieval and delivery operations, and 147 coffee preparations. Four robots successfully completed the trial, while the other two failed to meet their assigned objectives.

One robot, assigned to monitor the shelves, failed to check stock levels frequently enough (in simple terms, it was lazy) and could not replenish supplies fast enough to meet demand. Another robot, tasked with cleaning during the night shift, encountered an overflowing rubbish bin, deviated from its route, and wandered outside the store, effectively abandoning its workplace. Ironically, AGIBOT called the livestream "Robots Never Clock Out," suggesting that robots never leave work.

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