Tokyo launches six-foot robots to help visitors ahead of 2020 Olympic Games

Tokyo’s talking subway robots: City launches six-foot automatons that can speak, English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean to help visitors ahead of 2020 Olympic Games

Touch-screen equipped Arisa will give directions to tourists on Tokyo’s subway
She was tested at two subway stations in the city and impressed commuters
It is hoped that Arisa will streamline the running of the city during the Olympics

By Victoria Bell For Mailonline

Published: 16:07 GMT, 10 January 2019 | Updated: 17:54 GMT, 10 January 2019

Japan has deployed robots to work in Tokyo subway stations to help tourists in preparation for the 2020 Olympic Games.

The six-foot robot named Arisa, created by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, will give subway travellers directions and show them the way to the restrooms.

Tokyo is facing an influx of millions of spectators for the forthcoming international event which they will host for the second time in history, after 1964.

An ageing population and low birth rate has resulted in a national labour shortage, prompting the need for multilingual Arisa to guide the swarm of foreign tourists.

Japan has deployed robots to work in Tokyo subway stations to direct tourists in preparation for the 2020 Olympic Games. Arisa is a project by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Pictured here being demonstrated during the International Robot Exhibition 2017

The wide-eyed, next generation robot is accompanied with a touch screen monitor and can speak Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean.

Not only can she tell visitors about the local tourist attractions and how to change trains, but she isn’t camera shy and will pose for photos if asked.

Arisa, who was developed by Japanese tech company Aruze Gaming and Chicago-based THK, has already impressed residents with her ‘quick and easy’ interface.

Tokyo resident Kyosuke Tanaka, 25, came across Arisa on his way to work, and says he was impressed.

Mr Tanaka, director of the youth sports organisation Japan Sports Hub, believes Arisa will fill a key role during the 2020 Games.

‘The robot is a next generation robot that responds more smoothly and quickly than I imagined. The user interface is especially great,’ he told US News.

Arisa has completed two test runs at the Ueno-Okachimachi and Tochomae subway stops at the end of last year.

Tokyo is facing an influx of millions of spectators for the forthcoming games which they will host for the second time in its history, after 1964. Arisa, a project by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, that will show subway travellers the way to the restrooms and give directions.

The wide-eyed, next generation robot can speak Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean. She is also accompanied by a touch-screen monitor. She has completed two test runs at the Ueno-Okachimachi and Tochomae subway stops at the end of last year.

WILL YOUR JOB BE TAKEN BY A ROBOT?

A report in November 2017 suggested that physical jobs in predictable environments, including machine-operators and fast-food workers, are the most likely to be replaced by robots.

Management consultancy firm McKinsey, based in New York, focused on the amount of jobs that would be lost to automation, and what professions were most at risk.

The report said collecting and processing data are two other categories of activities that increasingly can be done better and faster with machines.

This could displace large amounts of labour – for instance, in mortgages, paralegal work, accounting, and back-office transaction processing.

Conversely, jobs in unpredictable environments are least are risk.

The report added: ‘Occupations such as gardeners, plumbers, or providers of child- and eldercare – will also generally see less automation by 2030, because they are technically difficult to automate and often command relatively lower wages, which makes automation a less attractive business proposition.’

Officials say that they are preparing for a second trial at other five stations in February to streamline service amid the throngs of visitors.

According to Takayuki Saito at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of General Affairs, the city will continue to study how robots like Arisa could be used in the future to enhance operations at various locations across the subway.

Since most Olympic volunteers are not familiar enough with the city layout and subway system to effectively help visitors, Arisa’s artificial intelligence will fill in the gaps to offer seamless support.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk