KT Deploys 2nd Generation AI Hotel Robots... Untact Expansion Due to COVID-19

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Cho] KT has partnered with Hyundai Robotics to unveil the second-generation Gigagenie hotel robot, 'N bot,' featuring improved design and performance.

According to KT on the 30th, N bot is now available at the Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotel & Residences (hereafter Novotel Ambassador Dongdaemun) in Seoul.

The Gigagenie hotel robot is an AI hotel robot that KT first introduced in December 2019 at Novotel Ambassador Dongdaemun, Korea's first AI hotel. Utilizing advanced ICT such as space mapping and autonomous driving, it delivers convenience items like towels and bottled water to guest rooms upon request.

The second-generation Gigagenie hotel robot, co-developed by KT and Hyundai Robotics, features a sleek, streamlined design. Meanwhile, its cargo compartment is 1.5 times larger than before, allowing it to deliver a wider variety of hotel supplies. Most notably, the robot's motor and wheels have been scientifically redesigned to increase travel speed by 40% and enhance driving stability by enabling collision avoidance. Battery performance has also improved, allowing for over 30% longer usage than before.

Novotel Ambassador Dongdaemun offers room service using the second-generation Gigagenie hotel robots in 211 rooms of the hotel building. Going forward, KT plans to deploy Gigagenie hotel robots for simple repetitive tasks to further enhance the quality of hotel services.

Over the past six months, the Gigagenie hotel robot has mainly operated during late-night hours (10 PM to 7 AM), receiving positive feedback from guests. Given the high preference for contactless services amid the COVID-19 pandemic, KT expects the newly introduced second-generation Gigagenie hotel robot to be used even more by guests.

The most requested room items through the first-generation Gigagenie hotel robot were bottled water, towels, slippers, toothbrushes, body wash, and shampoo, in that order. The peak request time was between 10 PM and midnight.

Kim Chaehee, Executive Director of KT's AI and Big Data Business Division, said, “With the high preference for contactless services due to COVID-19, we expect the second-generation Gigagenie hotel robot, which offers AI-powered contactless service, to receive favorable reviews. KT will apply AI robots across various fields such as food and beverage and offices to make customers' lives more convenient.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.