Robot Café: East Africa’s first restaurant with android waitresses

Robot Café, a revolutionary dining establishment, has emerged as the first restaurant in East Africa to employ android waitresses, offering patrons a remarkable experience in the capital city of Nairobi. This pioneering venture, located in the Kileleshwa district, showcases a minimalist design characterised by neutral tones complemented by blue accents, creating an ambiance of modernity and innovation.

Upon entering the café, customers are warmly greeted by robot waitress Nadia, who is elegantly dressed in a red attire and utilises advanced motion sensor technology to detect human presence at the entrance. Alongside Nadia, two additional android waitresses, named Claire and R24, operate within the restaurant, skillfully navigating between the reception area and the customers’ tables.

Equipped with dual cameras affixed to their heads, these robotic waitresses possess the capability to identify and differentiate between objects and individuals. Moreover, their built-in motion sensors facilitate seamless interaction within the café environment. The integration of these robots serves to enhance the efficiency of the restaurant staff by streamlining the delivery of orders and minimising customer wait times.

A human waitress at Robot Café named Massy, who spoke to qcostarica.com, expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the androids, noting that their presence enables her to cater to multiple tables simultaneously, thereby enhancing overall service quality.

The 26-year-old said, “The reality is that it is rewarding to collaborate with robots, as they alleviate my responsibilities concerning food transportation between the kitchen and tables”. Nevertheless, she emphasised the irreplaceable human element of waiter roles, highlighting the importance of personal interaction with guests, which androids are unable to replicate.

However, it is important to acknowledge that the robots are susceptible to technical challenges. John Kariuki, the restaurant’s manager, shared a notable incident from the establishment’s first week of operation when one robot’s charger malfunctioned. Furthermore, logistical hindrances exist, such as gutters on the restaurant floor that hinder the transportation of beverages like juices by the androids.

The technology underpinning these robotic assistants combines artificial intelligence with the Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system, allowing for precise measurement and navigation within the café. “This technology is crucial for enabling the robots to understand their environment and respond accordingly,” Mr. Kariuki remarked as quoted by qcostarica. Since its opening on June 16, the café has attracted significant curiosity from the public.

However, the rise of robotic technology within the hospitality sector has raised pertinent questions regarding its impact on employment. One such concern was voiced by Barak Leoret, a young engineer visiting the café for the first time, who expressed feelings of excitement coupled with anxiety regarding the notion of android waitstaff. “This development could present a significant challenge for numerous young individuals in Kenya who face employment difficulties,” he stated, reflecting a broader apprehension surrounding automation in the workforce.

The trend of integrating robotic waitstaff is not unique to Nairobi, as similar innovations have been adopted elsewhere in Africa. The Robot Café in Lagos, Nigeria, was notably the first on the continent to implement androids in their service team, followed by establishments in South Africa, such as The Munch Café in Johannesburg.

Acknowledging the inevitability of technological advancements in the hospitality industry, Mr. Kariuki articulated that this innovative shift represents merely the initial phase of an ongoing evolution within the sector. “Technology is an intrinsic part of our existence now; resisting its integration would have been futile years ago. We must embrace its presence as it is destined to become an enduring aspect of our service landscape,” he concluded.