At This Store, Robots Will Replace Human Employees. But, Wow, They Are Adorable. Softbank, the Japanese telecommunications and Internet corporation, will staff a cellphone store with (almost entirely) humanoid Pepper robots for a week.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Aldebaran | Softbank Group | Facebook

It's the sort of dystopian futuristic image that may very well make some feel a bit anxious and uncomfortable, but it's also the sort of image that is very likely to make the tech-obsessed squeal with glee. They are just so cute!

At the end of March, Japanese telecommunications and Internet corporation Softbank says that it will staff a cellphone store in Tokyo almost completely with its humanoid Pepper robots, according to a report in The Japan Times.

These wee, waist-high robots will greet customers with their big oversized "eyes," answer questions in a high-pitched child-like "voice"and help them check out.

There will have to be a few humans on hand because the Pepper robot has a hard time checking IDs, according to the report.

Related: This Handy Robot Holds a Pen and Writes Exactly Like You Do

SoftBank CEO Ken Miyauchi unveiled the weeklong "experiment" at a two-day exhibition called Pepper World in Tokyo.

To be sure, while the idea of a store full of Peppers made the nerdtastic heart of this tech reporter melt a bit, it's also a pretty scary proposition for the labor force. Every time a Pepper robot takes a job that was previously held by a human, that's one more human being that needs to find a new line of work. Retraining the global workforce for next generation jobs is serious and nothing to take lightly.

Related: Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking Warn That AI Military Robots Could Ignite the Next Global Arms Race

For a sense of what a Pepper robot looks and sounds like, have a looksee at these videos.

Related: The Robot Battle of Your Childhood Dreams Is Actually Happening

Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

Costco Isn't Facing Devastating Surges in Theft Like Target and Walmart — and the Reason Is Very Simple

The retailer's CFO revealed its strategy during a fourth-quarter-earnings call.

Business News

'We Will Not Be Able to Fund Payroll': La Perla Has Reportedly Not Paid Employees in a Month

A new email obtained by the New York Post shows that the company does not have the funds to pay its employees.

Marketing

How to Market to the Increasingly Socially Conscious Customer

Brands must remain adaptable as consumer preferences evolve, influenced by global events, cultural shifts and generational differences

Business Solutions

Save $369 on This MS Office and Windows 11 Pro Bundle

The lowest price on the web for Windows 11 Pro and MS Office: $50.