Goodbye Retail Associates, Hello Robots
The future of shopping has arrived, and it's not human.
Not only do robots cost less than humans, they don't complain, they speak multiple languages, and most importantly, by scanning aisles they know where every item is in the store and can take you straight to it.
Meet "OSHbot"
OSHbot is the newest member of the "Fellow Robots" family, and developed in partnership with Lowes Innovation Labs.
The future of shopping has arrivedOSHbot SpecsRetail Robotics is an exciting and fast growing new market and Fellow Robots is at the forefront. Advances in sensors, wireless networking, voice recognition and design prototyping are enabling us to build the smart retail robots that can autonomously navigate through stores, help communicate with customers to understand what they need and locate it quickly.
OSHbot incorporates the latest of these advanced technologies. For example, a customer may bring in a spare part and scan the object using OSHbot's 3D sensing camera. After scanning and identifying the object, OSHbot will provide product information to the customer and guide them to its location on store shelves.
- Front Screen: 19.5 inches
- Back Screen: 29 inches
- Height: 5 ft
- Weight: 85 pounds
OSHbot Technologies
- Voice recognition
- Advanced sensors
- Autonomous navigation
- Scanning
- Obstacle avoidance
Making Science Fiction a Reality
The robot will come up to you and say in a pleasant tone "Hello I am OSHBot, your store robot helper. What can I help you with."
Show OSHbot a screw, and OSHbot will scan the item and take you to the exact match, or tell you if it's out of stock. Not even the most knowledgeable human clerk can do that.
OSHbot Articles
The Wall Street Journal reports Newest Workers for Lowe's: Robots
The LA Times says Robot sales clerk? 'OSHbot' to debut in San Jose
OSHbot Video
The following video explains everything you need to know. It's well worth a play.
OSHbot Experience
Would you rather deal with an associate who may be unfriendly and typically does not know where things are, or OSHbot?
I would take OSHbot 7 days a week.
I suspect so would most. And even if you wouldn't, it's guaranteed to happen anyway.
Robots do not complain, they show up on time, they want to help, they don't ask for overtime, and they do not need medical insurance, Social Security, or pensions.
All of the greeters and helpers at WalMart, Lowes, Home Depot, Target, and retailers in general will give way to "Fellow Robots". And that will happen sooner than anyone realizes.
Deflationary Forces
OSHbot, competition, and technology in general are inherently price-deflationary.
With that thought, I suggest that the Fed, Central Banks, and Governments are on a failed mission. Sure, they can raise the minimum wage and engage in inflationary policies, but they cannot halt the march of technology and create jobs at the same time.
Every hike in minimum wages or healthcare subsidies is an extra added incentive for corporations to use hardware and software robots.
Inept Central Bank Policies
Asset bubbles of increasing magnitude over time coupled with rising income inequality is a direct consequence of inept central bank deflation-fighting exercises.
For further discussion please consider Challenge to Keynesians "Prove Rising Prices Provide an Overall Economic Benefit".
Inquiring minds may also wish to consider James Grant Conference Video: Inflation Expectations, Growth, Policy Problems; Europe Has Become Japan.
The next asset bust, as well as the Fed's response to it, are likely to be spectacular.
Addendum
A few interesting comments came within minutes. Here are a couple of them.
Gordon writes "This is great for the mom and pops of the world but ask the robot about the hammer and what actually works instead of just trying to sell someone a hammer and it cannot tell you."
Jon responds: "Good catch. I can't tell you how many times I've gone to Lowe's or Home Depot with a DYI project and the guy walked me around and told me how to do the same thing at half the cost that I budgeted. All at the expense to the company's margins of course. But those dudes are the best."
My reply: Robots will never replace everyone, just a huge portion of such workers. Moreover, and over time, these robots will get smarter and smarter, complete with how-to videos.
