Japanese Robot Could Call Last Orders on Human Bartenders (reuters.com) 91
Japan's first robot bartender has begun serving up drinks in a Tokyo pub in a test that could usher in a wave of automation in restaurants and shops struggling to hire staff in an aging society. From a report: The repurposed industrial robot serves drinks in is own corner of a Japanese pub operated by restaurant chain Yoronotaki. An attached tablet computer face smiles as it chats about the weather while preparing orders. The robot, made by the company QBIT Robotics, can pour a beer in 40 seconds and mix a cocktail in a minute. It uses four cameras to monitors customers to analyze their expressions with artificial intelligence (AI) software. "I like it because dealing with people can be a hassle. With this you can just come and get drunk," Satoshi Harada, a restaurant worker said after ordering a drink. "If they could make it a little quicker it would be even better." Finding workers, especially in Japan's service sector, is set to get even more difficult.
machine (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Don't care for the beer pouring but who do I complain to about my wife?
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Re: (Score:1)
"I'm just scared I'll come home one day and find you screwing the toaster."
Re: (Score:2)
This, but unironically (Score:2, Interesting)
If an AI ever starts trying to do that too, I won't trust that it's not data-mining me.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: This, but unironically (Score:2)
Youâ(TM)d be foolish to trust a bartender with something really critical; especially in a socially close environment where everyone is only a few degrees away from everyone else, or one where the bartender themselves may well have a strong personal interest in exploiting your disclosure.
However, unless you are some sort of
Re: (Score:2)
but who do I complain to about my wife?
M-x doctor?
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)
I'll miss them (Score:3)
It was always so cure when you ordered a cocktail and they went under the bar to consult the "Handbook for the Young Bartender".
Re: (Score:2)
When I come to power, anybody who orders a cocktail more complicated than a mint julep will be wrapped in barbed wire and dropped into the Mariana trench.
Re: (Score:3)
When I come to power, anybody who orders a cocktail more complicated than a mint julep will be wrapped in barbed wire and dropped into the Mariana trench.
I think I'd love to hear more of your goals for when you come to power.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
wrapped in barbed wire and dropped into the Mariana trench.
Ironically, this is Douglas Adams's backup recipe for the Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster.
Re: (Score:2)
I disagree.
Those sorts of things are fine to order when the bar is quiet and the bartender doesn't have much to do. A lot of them really get into the art of making a fancy, complicated cocktail. One place near me has "mixologists" with a whole workbench filled with candied flowers, droppers of various tinctures, powders, dusts, syrups, and dyes. They make some really cool drinks, that are both tasty but also real works of art.
But if you order them at 8pm on a Friday night? Your proposed solution isn't quite
Nonsense. Won't happen. (Score:5, Insightful)
As if a bartenders main job is to serve drinks. A large part of a bartenders job is to entertain the patrons.
I don't go into a cafe to get coffee. I go into a cafe to be served by early-to-mid 20 cute ladies and meet people and peoplewatch. If I want a robot, I'd get a roomba or a coffeebot for my appartment.
Re:Nonsense. Won't happen. (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
"Entertainment problem solved."
but...Hygiene issues introduced.
Re: (Score:1)
Re:Nonsense. Won't happen. (Score:5, Insightful)
Indeed. And other main jobs are to inform, sell products, deal with stupid people, and cut off people who are getting overserved. Vending machines, no matter how advanced, aren't good at those sorts of things.
My favorite bartender and I talk beer all the time when I go in. Me: "How's that new IPA?" Him: "I don't know, I just got here. Want to try it with me?" Another tosses me samples of beers he thinks I might like without telling me what they are to get my unvarnished opinion. And sometimes samples of utter garbage just to watch my expression. Nothing like a surprise peppermint porter to put a WTF expression on your face.
I'm first-name friendly with those folks. They know what I like, I know what they do on the weekend, and our relationship goes far beyond someone just trying to sell me shit. I doubt I'll ever care what a robot is going to do next weekend, no matter how good its AI is at figuring out what I'll like.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
One partial way to solve this is to record what you buy, how much you buy, and how often. If you order five shots of whiskey in ten minutes, the bartender would be programmed to not serve you for an hour.
Granted, someone else could buy drinks for you, but then they're being tracked as to how much and what they're buying in what time frame.
Re: (Score:2)
Next in Bartender 2.0: facial recognition software so it can should "Norm!" from all the pub's speakers when you enter the room.
Bartender 3 features are slated to include man-in-the-middle phone analysis software that recognizes when your wife calls you, sounds angry, and (with the new GestureBot commands) will implement signal-jamming on command "..sorry...honey, I ... seem to ... have a bad connection...will talk ... later"
System can also be employed to evaluate your BAC to block texting when drunk.
Re: (Score:2)
I doubt I'll ever care what a robot is going to do next weekend
robot bartender: We'll be closed tomorrow because I need to go drone-strike some terrorists. See you Friday.
Re: (Score:3)
And another thing that I just realized:
Sometimes I slip out of work early and slide into the pub. Occasionally I'm the only person there. Or maybe there's 1 other person on their phone. I chat with the bartender when that happens. He's bored and just doing prep work, I'm bored and having a drink.
Can you imagine if the bartender was a robot? All fucking alone in a pub, with a goddamn iPad face cheerily telling you about the weather before sliding you a drink and rolling back into the corner.
And then you're 1
Re: Nonsense. Won't happen. (Score:1)
Oh dear, use your imagination...!
If the robot isn't just good at figuring out what you like, but also capable of doing what you like for you, or rather to you, you may just want to take that remark back.
Especially if her capabilities include looking/moving/acting the way you like as well. Forget the bar, the beer and the black Jack!
Re: (Score:1)
I think you might have skipped the part about the population crater. There will be not be any mid 20's cute ladies willing to do that job for those wages.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Back in 1970 there was a TV show called UFO, crated by the one and only Gerry Anderson. The show was set in the far future of 1980, where we had a moon base staffed mostly by women in purple wigs.
Anyway the protagonist had this cool office that was actually an elevator so it could switch from being the super secret underground UFO-defence office to an above ground TV production office cover story. I don't know why he didn't just have two offices and a normal elevator but I guess if you could have an office
Re: (Score:2)
I remember that show, but only barely.. the UFOs looked odd, they weren't sauced shaped, but more conical, like spinning tops.. and that's about all I recall.
I'm cringing just at the mere notion of someone putting a single malt scotch in a dispenser.
Of course, not all bourbon, whiskey or gin are expensive, I could see Gordon's gin or Old Granddad coming out of a dispenser.
But if you want truly futuristic, you need the amazing wireless dispenser! [youtube.com] Take that, 1980s.
Re: (Score:2)
I'm cringing just at the mere notion of someone putting a single malt scotch in a dispenser.
You cringe because you don't understand that it's done regularly. If you've ever seen some fancy-ass place with little barrels of rare liquor and a spigot, there's like a 95% chance that there's a plastic bag attached to that spigot inside the barrel.
And did you ever think about how the booze gets from the barrel into the bottle? I'll give you a hint: They don't dunk every bottle into the barrel individually to fill them.
Re: (Score:2)
It's not sitting in some dirty dispenser for weeks or months at a time. When it goes from the still to the cask and later, the cask to the bottle, it's constantly moving.
You somehow want to equate a distillery environment with a bar. Different class of equipment and maintenance.
Re: (Score:2)
However the Socially Awkward Penguin types of Slashdot, as well as the Neckbearded Basement Dweller types who have reverted to being hermits and hate people in general will argue with you.
If 'robot bartenders' were all there was I'd just hit the liquor store and bring something home and save a bunch of money, just like I'd cook for myself at home if there was no waitstaff at restaurants.
The world needs less 'automation' and 'conveniences' and more actual
Re: (Score:2)
On the other hand most people in those positions absolutely hate their jobs because the patrons make their lives miserable. There are some people who enjoy it and some places where it is actually a pleasant job, but they're few and far between.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Nonsense. Won't happen. (Score:4, Insightful)
As if a bartenders main job is to serve drinks. A large part of a bartenders job is to entertain the patrons.
Maybe for those sitting at the bar alone (and I am not saying that in a pejorative way) but most people are there with friends and couldn't care less about being entertained by the bartender. Sure, one funny joke is always welcome, as is an advice on the beverages being served, but I personally would be ready to give that up as long as I don't have to give tip.
Also in many places, the bartenders don't have a lot of time to do more than what the robot would do anyways.
I don't go into a cafe to get coffee. I go into a cafe to be served by early-to-mid 20 cute ladies and meet people and peoplewatch. If I want a robot, I'd get a roomba or a coffeebot for my appartment.
I don't drink coffee but I don't feel like I am missing anything there. Most people appear to be on their phone/computer/newspaper. Or maybe talking to someone they already know. Meeting new/unexpected people in a café seems to be the exception, not the norm. And that is for people staying there. Most people seems to get a coffee to go.
No more doubles for the price of one (Score:1)
Maybe in Japan (Score:5, Insightful)
Honestly, I've never been in Japan. Maybe this is what their pubs are like, but this is the last thing I'd want.
If you just want to get cheaply drunk you might as well buy a big bottle of cider in Europe or some malt liquor in the US. The purpose of paying a premium for drinks in a bar is the environment. Having a bar tender who knows you can be a big part of that.
This would make much more sense as a bartender assistant - something that helps them pour more drinks more quickly so they can better tend to the customers.
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Never on earth have I "gotten to know" a bartender.
And I've gotten to know bartenders in many different cities, and even different countries where we barely spoke enough common language to communicate.
That says a lot more about you than you probably intended it to.
Re: (Score:2)
I don't think it does. I don't go bar hopping much, but in most of them the bartender is way too busy to make any kind of connection with patrons. You might get 30 seconds, a minute while they make the drink, but I don't see them being chatty with most people.
I'm curious what sort of venues you visit that allows you to gotten to know these bartenders.
Re: (Score:2)
Of course this means you're drinking outside standard hours, and may be a bit uncomfortable - eg: drinking by yourself. If you can't do this it can be more difficult..
Alternatively, go to smaller bars that fit less people. You can potentially fill a large proportion of the place with your group, which normally leads to a fair amount of attentiveness from bartenders.
Lastly, you need to be able to have a conversation of so
Re: (Score:2)
This would make much more sense as a bartender assistant - something that helps them pour more drinks more quickly so they can better tend to the customers.
Yeah, make it into a bar battlemech exoskeleton for the bartender. Would give extra meaning to "bar gun", and you wouldn't need a bouncer.
The Japanese somehow get even sadder (Score:2)
Jesus (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Notice the person quoted saying that is himself a restaurant employee.
Japan is behind (Score:4, Informative)
There is a robot bar in Vegas: http://thetipsyrobot.com/ [thetipsyrobot.com]
Re: (Score:2)
or this https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
Zero-to-Shitfaced speed records. (Score:2)
"I like it because dealing with people can be a hassle. With this you can just come and get drunk...If they could make it a little quicker it would be even better."
A little quicker? This robot can pour beers and mix drinks in 60 seconds or less. Just how fucking fast do you need to get drunk? I know that suicide is popular in a particular forest in Japan, but damn. Cue the alcohol enema robot shooter in 3..2..
Re: (Score:2)
You're not the only customer.
Re: (Score:2)
So a group of 10 of us come in and we either need to wait 10 minutes for drinks or by the time the last person gets theirs the first person is halfway done.
If you've ever watched a bartender on a slammed friday night in the groove, it doesn't take them 1 minute to make most drinks. Nor 40 seconds to pour a beer. They throw two beer glasses under the taps and flip them open, grab two shakers and load them with the ice and mixers, shut off the taps, measure the alcohol into the shakers and shake, pour, garnis
With this you can just come and get drunk (Score:2)
Kudos for perfectly encapsulating 21st century despair.
Can't wait for the future (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
You just described the arcades of yore. Good times, man, good times.
A UR robot in Japan? (Score:1)
Ageing population problem. (Score:2)
The problem of the Ageing population is a bigger problem then robots doing some of the jobs.
Economies are tightly linked to the population of the country, as children in general will help the economies grow. However most modern governments have also created a system which for each family a child is a personal economic expense.
Japan got a massive economic boost during the 1980's when all the Japanese Boomers in their 20's and 30's started getting into the market. Most had sacrificed having a family for thei
why go out at all (Score:1)
Other than the novelty, why go out at all. If we don't want to interact with human staff we can more easily stay at home. Maybe get our drinks delivered and be total shut ins.
Re: (Score:2)
Other than the novelty, why go out at all. If we don't want to interact with human staff we can more easily stay at home. Maybe get our drinks delivered and be total shut ins.
Good news - Total Wine has 1-hour delivery!
Re: (Score:2)
Other than the novelty, why go out at all. If we don't want to interact with human staff we can more easily stay at home. Maybe get our drinks delivered and be total shut ins.
Probably because they live in Tokyo where the average apartment costs $780 / square foot so your home is a shoe box. I see that it's now fallen out of the 10 most expensive cities in the world, but you'd still pay a pretty penny to have your own cozy corner at home.
Re: (Score:2)
I could see a market for something like this at popular clubs where a lot of the drink ordered are handled by wait staff. Orders could be entered by the staff on a tablet and they swing by the bar to pick them up from the machines rather than waiting for a human bartender, and then serve them to the customers.
You could still have human bartenders at the bar providing service to people handing out at the bar, and they would have more time to entertain those guests and up sell to them.
Re: (Score:2)
Other than the one time we went to the brew pub that our friends' friend had recently opened I don't ever remember going to a bar to interact with the staff. I go to the bar to interact with the other patrons, mostly people that I know from elsewhere.
Re: (Score:1)
I chat with the bartenders and waitresses that I see pretty often. A few I wished well when they completed college and went on to start their careers. A good pub is a little community that is bigger than just your closest circle of friends.
So, what about age and to blasted to drive (Score:2)
How's the patronage? (Score:2)
How's business, a day, a week, and a month after they installed it?
I would refuse to patronize such a place. I don't care how you feel about it, you're not telling me how to spend my money.
And they're having trouble finding bartenders "in an aging society"? I dunno, but that sounds like legall-actionable agism to me.
Re: (Score:2)
So you end up with a segmented market. Some bars don't have robots, and some do. Some have plants and some don't. Some are full of bikers, some are full of lawyers. Etc.
I would wager that right now you haven't gone into most of the bars in whatever city you live in. (For a small town, this isn't as true.)
Re: (Score:2)
"In an aging society" doesn't mean that they won't hire older people, it means that there are few people willing to accept shit jobs for low pay since normally that contingent is filled by younger people who don't have any other choice.
Tap Room (Score:2)
Could ... but won't (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
R2D2 serves the drinks... [youtube.com] and a lightsaber, which definitely cuts it.
I'd go for it. (Score:4)
For my purposes, a robot that can make a drink in a known good configuration would fit my needs even better. I also wouldn't have to tip it.
Re: I'd go for it. (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Umm, no. Unless you're ridiculously regular and tip really well the bartender has no idea nor interest what your preferences are and are just dishing out approximately the same drink every time.
Re: (Score:3)
Manufactured by Sirius Cybernetics Corp? (Score:2)
You just know its AI will produce a bartender whose morose demeanor will drive patrons to drink harder, chugging beverages that almost completely, but not quite entirely, taste unliike Jack and Coke.
And with bartenders, just say goodbye to... (Score:2)
Could but won't (Score:2)
Basically it was a glorified vending machine. Now if it were priced as such then ma
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
those pesky rules about intoxication that humans can enforce
In Vegas???
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Even if not a criminal offense, it can still lose the bar's liquor license. Will, if the state inspectors are around or being the ones being (mis)served.
I RTFA and it is a good option (Score:1)
But can a robot do this? (Score:2)
While I do not go to bars (waaayy too expensive), I might change my mind if she were my bartender [imgur.com].
Then again, she seems to practice [9cache.com].