Jakarta, INTI - There are concerns that some jobs will become extinct and be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. As AI advances, it becomes increasingly sophisticated and capable of performing tasks previously only human workers could perform.
One example is in China which has a robot training center in Wuhan that trains robots to perform tasks like making coffee and performing daily household tasks. There were also reports about a Chinese startup that opened a kiosk store with robots as the staffs.
Robot-Manned Kiosk Store
Galbot, a company specializing in industrial robotics, opened a kiosk in Beijing staffed by humanoid robots in August 2025. They described the kiosk as "the first store operated by an autonomous humanoid."
The humanoid used is the Galbot G-1, a two-armed robot that Galbot launched in June 2024. The robot can move around the kiosk to pick up items and hand them to customers, much like a human employee.
"The humanoid robot Galbot G-1 runs everything, serving thousands of customers each day. From greeting visitors to serving drinks, snacks, and pharmaceuticals, Galbot autonomously handles every order, with zero teleoperation, powered by Galbot’s proprietary GroceryVLA and GraspVLA," the company said.
Operating Speed is Still Slow
However, the Galbot G-1's movements are still relatively slow. Its function is actually not much different from a vending machine. Galbot stated that similar kiosks will open across China. Most recently, Galbot opened a kiosk in Beijing's bustling Summer Palace.
Galbot CEO Wen Airong expressed an ambition to open 100 stores in 10 Chinese cities in 2026. To achieve this ambition, Galbot must overcome two challenges, which are creating more natural interactions and increasing operating speed.
Conclusion
China is developing humanoid robots for service tasks like making coffee, doing housework, and staffing a kiosk store. Robotics startup Galbot has even opened an autonomous kiosk in Beijing operated by the Galbot G-1 humanoid. This robot is capable of serving customers independently, although it is currently limited in speed and functionality. Galbot aims to expand to 100 stores in 10 cities by 2026, but still faces challenges in natural interaction, voice recognition, and robot operating speed.
Read more: China’s Humanoid Robots Advance Rapidly, Breaking Records and Dominating the Global Industry