That Starbucks queue just got quicker with this robot order taker

Say goodbye to long queues at your favourite cafe.

If you’re tired of waiting in line at a cafe every morning while baristas struggle to take down everyone’s extremely customised coffee order (example: double caramel macchiato with half soy milk, half skimmed milk, less ice, and extra caramel sauce), you might be pleased to know that a smart ordering machine could cut your wait time to mere seconds.

Alibaba Group’s global research institute DAMO Academy unveiled a “smart-ordering” system that allows customers to place complex orders via voice, and even updates the order in real-time should there be any changes or updates.