New | Artificially intelligent robot at China’s international conference serves up food for thought

Chinese manufacturers are keen to change the daily lives of millions of people through their “artificially intelligent” robots – even though it appears there is still a long way to go.

One of them, dressed up as a Pleasant Goat, a cartoon character from a popular Chinese animated television series, has a built-in function that can remind the elderly to take medicine.

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A saleswoman of the robot, designed by the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Science, said it was also equipped with a sensor to detect if the elderly person had fallen down, which could then send real-time video alerts to family members.

Another robot, designed by a company in Heilongjiang province, raised the interest of many visitors by being able to precisely cook, and then serve 100 different Chinese dishes.

The robot is able to prepare food for up to 20 people.

Li Hui, the company’s deputy general manager, said the robot, which works on a small cooking bench, would help ease labour in school and business canteens.