Chef Simon Gault recently put on lunch for a group of journalists at Charley Noble near Wellington's waterfront. But the former MasterChef judge wasn't to be seen in the kitchen, or anywhere near the restaurant for that matter. He was 600km away on the end of a video call from Auckland, dressed in his immaculate chef's whites and holding a tablet computer.
Tapping on it, he sent instructions in the bustling kitchen to a robotic arm, which used its tongs to pick up a crayfish tail sizzling on the grill and delicately place it on the fluffy white roll that was about to be served up to me.
Robo-Chop, as the robotic chef was nicknamed, is a bit of a gimmick. It's unlikely to be putting chefs out of work any time soon. The point of the demonstration, held by Samsung, Spark and robotics companies RML Machinery and ABB Robotics, was to celebrate the extension of Spark's 5G mobile network to cover most of Wellington's central business district.
Denne historien er fra December 02-08, 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra December 02-08, 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Sights to behold
Being blind didn't deter Aucklander FRASER ALEXANDER and his partially-sighted wife from travelling in Europe. Their memories were shaped by sound, touch and smell.
Pages of delight
Charming survey of children's literature throughout the centuries should be treasured and reread.
Heart of the matter
Women are less likely to be diagnosed with heart disease than men, and less likely to get best treatment. Researchers are struggling with old stereotypes to right the balance.
Balaclava beats
Their paramilitary shtick is intentionally menacing, offensive and alienating, but to be fair to the hip-hop trio Kneecap, their infamous balaclava is disarmingly hilarious. Kneecap, the 2024 movie that offers a fictionalised account of their rise to fame, is a Bafta- and Oscar-nominated Northern Irish film sensation.
Friends like these
One of the stranger characteristics of the populist oligarchy mobilising around Donald Trump's new administration is the interest taken in the domestic politics of the UK.
Irresistible force
A new documentary about gentle rugby giant Jonah Lomu reveals little but is a reminder of what made him special.
Fleeing the nest
A tale of building a new life after an abusive relationship makes for an impressive debut.
Life less ordinary
Chelsie Preston Crayford follows a big 2024 with a new comedy role and putting the finishing touches on her debut feature as a director and writer.
Not on our watch
Nasa, one of the most technologically advanced organisations on the planet, made prospective astronauts take inkblot tests to determine their sexuality.
No free lunch
The new, cut-price school lunch programme will shut out many community providers. But will bulk-supplied meals meet children’s needs?
