Robot Receptionist Starts Work in April
Come next April, Honda says its Asimo robot will be employed as a receptionist at a company office north of Tokyo. Honda made no mention of Asimo's salary or whether it would be eligible for benefits. But given that the robot can be rented for $166,000 annually, it's probably paid well. Satoshi Shigemi, Asimo's handler, says that while Asimo used to be good only for entertainment, it can now manage the responsibilities of a receptionist or tour guide. According to Honda, the prototype can guide guests, serve coffee on a tray, and push a cart. Additional work will be required before Asimo can manage the complexities of coffee service in the U.S., where tall, non-fat, half-caf lattes and Venti™, cinnamon, no-foam, iced soy caps routinely vex baristas. Legacy human receptionists will be either reprogrammed or scrapped.
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