While human waitstaff are sometimes a disappointment – they forget your order, they punch in late, they expect a tip – three restaurants in China are finding out that our machine friends aren't necessarily a better alternative.
After testing out a team of robot waiters in their respective facilities, three Guangzhou restaurants have recently opted to either lay off their robotic waitstaff or close down the business altogether due to the machines' incompetence, reports Shanghaiist.
“The robots weren't able to carry soup or other food steady and they would frequently break down. The boss has decided never to use them again,” one employee told the online news outlet.
When you think about it, this probably makes sense: while robots are perfect for doing simple, repetitive tasks, having to handle hot liquids or deal with a particularly high-maintenance diner's order are probably not the best duties for non-humans to perform.
“Their skills are somewhat limited,” another worker told Shanghaiist. “They can't take orders or pour hot water for customers.”
Though the restaurants saved a killing by hiring non-human workers – it costs 50,000 yuan (US$7,713) to hire a robot and just a few hundred yuan a month to cover its electricity and repairs – the quality of the service isn't up to snuff.
Looks like we'll just have to deal with humans for the time being.
[Photo via Shanghaiist]
