National Theater Introduces AI Robot 'QAI' to Guide Seat Locations

The artificial intelligence cultural interpretation robot 'Curating Bot (Q.I.)' introduced by the National Theater.

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The National Theater announced on the 12th that it will expand advanced digital-based services such as artificial intelligence (AI) robots to provide a safer and more convenient viewing environment in the changed daily life due to COVID-19.

Last September, with the reopening of the Haeoreum Theater, the National Theater introduced ▲contactless (Air Touch) unmanned ticket vending machines ▲QR code payment systems ▲automatic ticket inspection systems. Starting this month, the AI cultural interpretation robot 'Curating Bot (Q.I.)' will begin full-scale service at the Haeoreum Theater.

'Q.I.' is a compound word of Culture, Curating, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), carrying a double meaning of 'an AI that curates cultural information' and 'a child who curates cultural information.' Compared to AI robots operating in major exhibition spaces, the theater’s distinctive feature is undoubtedly the 'seat assistant' service at the Haeoreum Theater. By pressing or speaking their seat number on the screen, visitors are guided from their current location to their seat via a 3D map. It also provides various National Theater contents that everyone can enjoy, including theater facility guidance, multilingual services for foreigners (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese), and voice, subtitles, and sign language guidance for the visually and hearing impaired. 'Q.I.,' the first of its kind introduced in domestic performance venues, is ready to meet visitors at the Haeoreum Theater and will officially start operation from the National Gugak Orchestra’s '2022 New Year Concert' on the 14th.

In the era of infectious disease spread, the National Theater has established a safe performance viewing environment by introducing contactless and non-face-to-face ticketing systems. When a ticket is reserved, visitors can issue their tickets directly at the contactless unmanned ticket vending machines using one of the reservation number, mobile phone number, or QR code without visiting the box office. Since hand gestures are recognized within about 2cm without directly touching the screen, it minimizes multiple contacts. Due to the steady increase in usage at the Haeoreum Theater, there are plans to expand the introduction of unmanned ticket vending machines to the Daloreum Theater this year.

The QR code payment system at the box office allows payment by simply scanning a smartphone’s simple payment QR code without presenting a credit or debit card to the staff during the payment process. For advance ticket purchasers, ticket issuance is also possible by scanning the reservation QR code. This system is currently in operation at both the Haeoreum and Daloreum Theaters.

Contact with others is minimized during seat entry through the automatic ticket inspection system. Previously, performance guides manually checked tickets, tore off stubs by hand, and returned them to visitors. However, with the automatic ticket inspection system, visitors can conveniently enter by scanning the barcode printed on the ticket themselves at the reader. Additionally, based on the inspection system data, real-time attendance status can be quickly identified, enabling efficient seat management.

A National Theater official stated, “Through the modernization of the National Theater system, we will do our best to provide the best customer service and offer a safer and more convenient viewing environment even in the daily life of COVID-19.”

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