Colonel Sanders is going against tradition with a new concept store located in Shanghai that lets customers order fried chicken from a voice-activated* robot. Dubbed “Dumi,” the robot is smart enough to handle order changes and substitutes, but its creators say it cannot distinguish other dialects or accents. Located at the National Exhibition Convention Center, the store is a collaboration between KFC and Baidu. The duo has named the establishment “Original+,” in honor of the brand’s traditional recipe. The futuristic restaurant, which opened its doors on April 25, features wireless charging stations that also allows customers to stream music. Payment is all done through a smartphone via mobile payment services like Baidu Wallet. Original+ isn’t the only high-tech KFC store in China. A separate location in Shenzhen allows patrons to pay for orders using China’s popular text messaging system “QQ.” Recently a Japanese amusement park announced that it is adding a robotic world to one of its popular amusement parks. (SD-Agencies) |