Already facing competition from online and mobile channels, bank branch staff in Japan are about to come up against a new threat: mini humanoid robots. Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ is planning to employ two foot tall, $8000 robots as greeters in a couple of Tokyo branches later this year. Developed by French outfit Aldebaran Robotics, NAO can answer basic questions in 19 languages and even analyse facial expressions and behaviour. Bank spokesman Kazunobu Takahara told the Wall Street Journal: "We can ramp up communication with our customers by adding a tool like this."

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