Shanghai landmark launches humanoid robot service

As part of an effort to enhance the visitor experience at the cultural landmark, the Grand Halls in Shanghai put its first humanoid robot to work on Tuesday.

According to its operator, the humanoid robot will offer multilingual tours, intelligent guidance and is capable of answering questions.

"The number 001 robot is expected to support the Grand Halls' operations across a variety of scenarios, from government receptions and corporate events to public tours and cultural exhibitions," said Bian Min, deputy general manager of the Grand Halls.

According to Bian, after five years' of development, the Grand Halls has become an important platform for showcasing Shanghai's image and conducting international exchanges.

"The introduction of the robot employee will help ease manpower shortages, enabling us to provide the public with more efficient, friendly and distinctive services," Bian said.

Xiang Zongyang, chief operating officer of Shanghai Embodied Intelligence Technology Co, said further efforts would be made to improve the humanoid robot's ability to meet the diverse needs of different visitor groups.

"We always believe that embodied intelligence requires extensive hands-on experience and repeated refinement in real-world business scenarios. The collaboration with the Grand Halls will allow us to improve our robots' interaction logic and capabilities," said Xiang.

Xiang said Shanghai Embodied Intelligence is hoping to expand its robot services to various business, culture and tourism outlets.

Situated at the intersection of the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek, the Grand Halls opened to the public in 2024. Reconstructed from three historical buildings, the site has been renovated to incorporate modern design elements while retaining its original style.