# Receptionist Robots (FOLLOW UP) Wakamaru By Alex Covert | Published 2007-07-19 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/receptionist-robots-wakamaru References: [mhi.co.jp](http://www.mhi.co.jp/kobe/wakamaru/english/index.html) & [news.xinhuanet](http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-07/17/content_6389299.htm) Are receptionist robots the next big thing? This is the fourth receptionist robot Trend Hunter has discovered. Read the others [HERE](http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robotic-receptionist), [HERE](http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sora-the-secretary-a-robot-for-your-office) and [HERE](http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/saya-the-robot-receptionist). People Staff, a temporary staffing agency based in Nagoya, Japan, has just hired 10 robots that they will put to work in the Tokai area. Wakamarus were originally made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for family fun or domestic use. Now, secretaries are one step closer (or should I say, one wheel revolution closer) to losing their jobs. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.5/10 - Popularity: 63% | Activity: 94% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) > [Bizarre](https://www.trendhunter.com/bizarre) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Receptionist Robots:** The rise of receptionist robots presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the robotics and automation industries. - **Artificial Intelligence Assistants:** The growth of artificial intelligence assistants as a replacement for human business assistants offers opportunities for innovation in AI and machine learning. - **Service Robotics:** The increase in service robotics for non-industrial purposes presents opportunities for innovation within the robotics and automation industries. ### Who This Affects Most - **Robotics:** The development of receptionist robots signals a major opportunity for disrupting the robotics industry. - **Automation:** The rise of receptionist robots presents a huge opportunity for automation companies to innovate within the industry. - **Human Resources:** The emergence of receptionist robots raises the need for innovation in human resources to determine the role of humans when robots become ubiquitous. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Healthcare Assistant Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/healthcare-assistant-robot.md) - [Real-World Service Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/service-robot1.md) - [Hospitality-Focused Humanoid Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/humanoid-robot-1.md) - [Child-Friendly Service Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/next-generation-service-robot.md) - [Advanced Humanoid Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ameca.md) - [Interactive Companion Care-Bots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fourier-g3.md) - [Autonomous Office Helper](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nubo-smart.md) - [General-Purpose Humanoid Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/figure-03.md) - [Cutting-Edge AI Humanoid Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/old-world-labs.md)