- Title: SoftBank's robot "Pepper" begins first job outside of Japan
- Date: 6th October 2016
- Summary: ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PEPPER'S ARMS SWAYING
- Embargoed: 21st October 2016 07:53
- Keywords: SoftBank Taiwan robot Pepper Japan
- Location: TAIPEI, TAIWAN
- City: TAIPEI, TAIWAN
- Country: Taiwan
- Topics: Company News Markets,Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA00452V97B9
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: SoftBank Corp's humanoid robot Pepper began its first formal job outside Japan at Taiwan's First Commercial Bank on Thursday (October 6).
This is the first of 100 rented Pepper units which are due to "work" at other banks as well as in French retailer Carrefour shops in Taiwan.
First Commercial Bank's Pepper was unveiled to the media where it was handed a formal employee ID card by the bank's CEO, Chou Po-Chiao.
Pepper performed a short exercise routine with bank employees before interacting with customers.
First Commercial representatives said that Pepper's responsibilities will mainly be to interact with and entertain customers--he won't be servicing them in any formal bank transactions, for now, they said. First Commercial Bank will soon have over 20 Peppers in operation at its bank branches across the country.
Perobot Co Ltd, is in charge of sales and maintenance for Pepper in Taiwan which are available for lease in a two-year contracts at T$26,888 ($836.67) per month.
Some customers were pleased to interact with Pepper.
"I think this is pretty good for customers just for them to kill time or to have more fun interacting with Pepper. Because for (most) robots, their (main) functions are basically mechanical, and they are needed where more time and strength are required for a job. But (Pepper) is a very good thing, and he's more interesting than those other robots," said bank customer Chang Cheng-Kang.
Pepper is a key plank in SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son's vision of future technology centered on 'internet of things', a network of devices, vehicles and building sensors that collect and exchange data.
The fast-selling robot can already laugh and serve coffee and is being used as a waiter, salesman and customer service representatives in about 500 companies in Japan, including Nestle, Mizuho Bank and Nissan. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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