Customers Embrace SoftBank's Robot, Pepper PYMNTS.com

Imagine you were traveling on business and you just arrived into town and had an emergency. Your luggage was sent to the wrong city or you were late for a critical meeting and you needed directions to the convention center. The check-in counter has a dozen guests waiting and the concierge is busy. Well, you may be in luck, because a four-foot robot with an open tablet computer and no waiting line is standing in the corner, and just may be able to come to your assistance. Pepper is an intelligent assistant that costs a bit more than a smart speaker, and can engage you in ways that go beyond ordering pizza or playing your favorite Top 40 tunes on the radio.