The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed shopaholics to forfeit shopping trips in favor of making their purchases online. And when you must shop in-person for something big like a home or a car, the experience can be uncomfortable, or worse, anxiety-inducing.

However, all this might be on the cusp of change. Earlier this month at the Hyundai Motor showroom in Seoul, Hyundai Motor Group revealed an exciting new member of their team: DAL-e, a highly advanced customer service robot.

DAL-e stands for “Drive you, Assist you, Link with you- Experience”, and uses its unparalleled recognition capabilities and impressive mobility to better serve customers in a contact-free environment. Even though automated customer service robots already exist, DAL-e was designed to pioneer a fresh and intimate side of this technology.

DAL-e’s artificial intelligence technology for facial recognition is state-of-the-art, along with its language-comprehension and automatic communication system. Furthermore, it is equipped with amiable and expressive physical features and an adorably compact humanoid body that encourages personable and engaging interactions. 

Currently, DAL-e can escort customers through showrooms to designated areas using its omnidirectional wheels. It easily responds to verbal commands as well as those administered through its touch screen. It also adeptly engages in automated dialogue and, using wireless connectivity, can explain the technology behind the vehicles on display.

But DAL-e is more than just a source of information; It is a great host. DAL-e can recognize when a customer enters without a mask and politely advises them to wear one to promote safety. It also uses its movable arms to gesture animatedly in response to customers, and to beckon visitors to take photos with it. 

DAL-e is already easing workflow for the staff by offering hands-on assistance to customers in a hands-off way, especially at peak times such as the weekend. DAL-e provides a great alternative for those who prefer not to be exposed to human sales representatives during this time. 

The goal is to continuously update and improve DAL-e so that it can have flawless and entertaining exchanges with customers while providing them with valuable service.