Last but not least: humanoid customer service
For the first time, a robot is set to take over customer service at a major Japanese bank.
The robot, which is 58 centimeters tall and weighs 5.4 kilograms, is equipped with cameras and microphones and is designed to greet customers as they enter the bank. As a spokesperson for the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ announced on Tuesday, the prototype—called NAO—is set to be deployed on a trial basis this spring at one or two branches in Tokyo. Once a customer has explained their request to the robot, it responds and directs the customer to the appropriate bank counter.
The humanoid robot can communicate in 19 different languages. NAO is manufactured by the French company Aldebaran Robotics, a subsidiary of the Japanese telecommunications giant SoftBank Corp. Its 25 movable joints help the robot gesticulate.
With an eye toward the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the financial institution hopes the robot will help it handle the expected increase in foreign customers. Initially, the bank plans to conduct a trial period during which the robot will assist its human colleagues to gauge how customers react to robotic customer service. Afterward, the bank will decide whether to officially introduce the humanoid robot, it said.
While that may not exactly fit the image of personalized customer service, in the 21st century, one can’t really expect the phrase «Good morning, how may I help you?» not to be automated sooner or later. (uma/SDA)
Image: Keystone
