Always on the cutting edge of trends, Melbourne can now claim to host the world’s first retail robotics ice-cream store.
Located in Federation Square, the shop is run by Niska, a small start-up that is saving the dosh when it comes to employing people.
Customers can choose from 16 different flavours, with robots Tony, Eka and Pepper all offering friendly, albeit robotic, customer service.
Check out this robot-run ice cream machine in Singapore
“We’re excited to bring a new offering to Melbourne’s bustling food scene and we can’t wait for everyone to experience Niska and meet our robot team,” said Anton Morus, the team director.
“It is set to become a must-do experience for anyone living in or visiting Melbourne.”
Your friendly neighbourhood ice-cream robot
Despite concern that it could be taking opportunities away from job-seekers, minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade Martin Pakula didn’t seem to phased.
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“There is amazing work going on here in areas like robotics and artificial intelligence – and the ice-cream’s also pretty good,” he said.
“Robots serving single scoops is great fun and a real feather in the cap for Victorian innovation.”
Flavours served up by the team include Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Hazelnut, Rocky Road, Rainbow and Cookies and Cream.
While it might sound like something out of a Sci-Fi movie, thousands of scientists have pledged not to create any killer robots, so we should be safe.
Given there’s also robot pick-up trucks, we might not be too far away from fully-fledged robot Uber Eats either.
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