Chip labor

A restaurant in Shanghai has replaced its waiters with robots and, as digital payments via mobile phones already rival cash for many purchases in China, many more automated eateries are expected to open

The little robotic waiter wheels up to the table, raises its glass lid to reveal a steaming plate of local Shanghai-style crayfish and announces in low, mechanical tones, "Enjoy your meal."

The futuristic restaurant concept is the latest initiative in Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba's push to modernize service and retail in a country where robotics and artificial intelligence are increasingly being integrated into business.