Futuristic Shopping Experience, This Mall In Jakarta Has A Humanoid Robot As A Customer Service

JAKARTA - The experience of shopping for the people of Jakarta is now moving towards an increasingly futuristic era, especially in the application of the latest technology.

As we feel so far, daily interactions in public spaces ranging from payments, automated navigation systems, digital shopping catalogs, to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to make it easier for visitors to shop, as well as being able to provide new experiences when going to shopping centers.

This trend is also seen in various major cities around the world, where shopping centers are starting to adopt technology that allows services to feel faster, personal, and intuitive.

Similar developments are starting to appear in Indonesia. One example of the use of an AI-based humanoid robot at Kuningan City Mall, Jakarta. The robot, named Airy, was introduced as a staff in charge of providing various information to visitors, ranging from tenant directions, ongoing shopping discounts, to event details and layouts of various facilities in shopping centers.

According to TCR & Marcomm Manager Kuningan City Mall, Fauzan S. Utomo, Airy's development has been carried out since 2022. The initial idea came after the team visited a number of shopping centers in Chongqing, China, and saw the massive use of AI robots there.

"We are trying to develop engines from Chongqing and look for local vendors with very capable capabilities to produce robots. So, this first prototype robot AI customer service is originally made locally," Fauzan said at a press conference in Jakarta, recently.

The Airy robot is designed using an AI engine from Alpha Beta, with the framework of being carried out by a robotic studio from Tegal, Central Java, Umay Robot. Part 3D robot body developed by Arkasena, involves digital artists so that the robot's appearance remains in line with the current developing modern design.

The presence of this innovation deliberately carries the humanoid concept in order to be able to provide an interaction experience that feels closer to humans. Visitors who come, can ask anything according to their shopping needs or destination when they come to the mall.

The interaction method is also quite easy, visitors only need to talk in front of this robot to ask something, then the robot will answer it with complete information about the latest information from the shopping center.

"We want to provide a unique shopping experience, visitors can meet robots directly who can speak and interact in several languages according to visitors who often come to this mall, including Indonesian, English and others," Fauzan continued.

The Airy robot will start operating on Friday, December 12, 2025 in the Concierge area. The mall also hopes that the existence of this robot can add to the unique futuristic experience for visitors, as well as the first step in exploring the use of AI in shopping centers or public services.

"In the future Airy can also collect databases and recognize mall customers because this robot will continue to be updated," Fauzan concluded.