You’ve heard of WALL-E. Now meet DAL-e.
Unlike the starring character in the Pixar film, DAL-e is very present in the real world, and its mission could only get bigger from here.
DAL-e is a new robot from Hyundai Motor Group, the parent of auto brands Hyundai and Kia, and a massive South Korean conglomerate. Hyundai calls DAL-e an “advanced humanoid robot.” It has cute looks and a powerful electronic brain that is said to tout impressive artificial intelligence.
DAL-e’s mission is to act as a customer-service robot, the company said. Its name is an acronym for “Drive you, Assist you, Link with you-experience.”
Hyundai robot DAL-e gets to work
DAL-e debuted this week in Seoul at a Hyundai Motor showroom. And in true robot fashion, it has already gotten busy working. Its job is to interact with and assist customers. DAL-e is able to do this thanks to its AI technology and advanced communication system. It even has facial recognition ability, Hyundai said.
“In terms of its communication capability, it can engage in an automated and smooth dialogue with customers by providing useful information on products and services and responding to verbal and screen touch commands,” Hyundai says.
For now, DAL-e is part of a pilot program. After this operation, the robot is “expected to be used in various fields that require everyday interactions with customers, such as other showrooms of Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation,” the company said. This will likely take place in Hyundai’s home market, but if DAL-e is successful, maybe it (and others) will get a ticket to America.
Hyundai isn’t the only car company with a robot. Honda has had its ASIMO for years, and we suspect others will follow. In announcing DAL-e, Hyundai pointed out that such robots are especially ideal in today’s pandemic environment, where it can provide help and assistance in a safe way to humans.
