NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — In a lively restaurant in Kenya’s capital, children laugh and young people excitedly use their smartphones to capture the moment as robots glide through the space, delivering plates of freshly made meals on their built-in trays.
Nairobi has developed a bustling technology industry with many startups and innovations, earning it the title of “The Silicon Savanna” and establishing it as a tech hub in East Africa.
Welcome to the Robot Cafe, which is considered the first of its kind in both Nairobi and East Africa. Here, three robots work alongside human waiters, serving food to amazed diners.
The robots were purchased mainly for entertainment purposes. Cafe owner Mohammed Abbas shares that he was inspired to invest in them after experiencing similar robotic service in several Asian and European countries.
“It was quite costly to import the robots,” he explains, “but this investment has been rewarding because our restaurant attracts a lot of curious customers eager to try the robot service.”
One customer, Packson Chege, excitedly retrieves a plate of fries from a robot’s tray while his friend records the experience at their table. He shares, “This is something truly unique. I’ve never seen a restaurant like this in Kenya, so I think it’s a brilliant idea by the owner.”
The three robots, named Claire, R24, and Nadia, are not designed for in-depth conversations; they can only say phrases like “Your order is ready” and “Welcome.” After picking up their meals, patrons need to press a button to signal that they’re done with the tray.
Human waiters still play a vital role at the cafe as they take orders from customers who prefer not to order online. When meals are ready, the waiters place the food on the robots’ trays and serve beverages directly to customers.
This kind of technology is expected to change the workforce landscape around the world, particularly in Africa, which has a youthful population with an average age of 19 years.
Despite the rise of robots, the cafe manager insists that they are not meant to replace human waiters, as the robots cannot perform all the necessary functions. “The robots can’t completely take over the restaurant’s operations without the human touch,” says John Kariuki, the manager. “Also, with the high costs of acquiring robots, you wouldn’t save money by switching to all-robot service.”
According to hospitality industry expert Edith Ojwang, there’s a place for both robotic and human service within the industry. She notes, “The hospitality sector is diverse. Some clients will prefer robotic service and full automation, while others will favor the warmth and personal touch of human service. So, it’s not a complete threat to human jobs because of this diversity in customer preferences.”
