Are robot bartenders on their way?

Last February, before the coronavirus outbreak in the country, the first Japanese robot bartender began serving up drinks in a Tokyo pub.

Built by QBIT Robotics, the robot can pour a beer in 40 seconds and mix a cocktail in a minute. It uses four cameras to monitor customers and analyse their expressions with AI software. At about ¥9 million (€74,000), the robot costs as much as employing a human bartender for three years.

Although robot bartenders were originally developed to address difficulties in recruiting experienced human staff, in today’s post-Covid world perhaps they are the solution for safely reopening bars and restaurants.