A string of failures has sapped confidence that robots will take over production at pizza restaurants.
Some retailers are allowing customers to purchase in-store items using a trolley that tots up the final cost.
Across the country, there are more than two million robots working in China's factories, and they are continuing to scale up at extraordinary speed.
A shopper says being able to have face-to-face interaction with staff can be "life-affirming".
Most clothes are made in Asia, but new machines could bring some of that work back to the West.
They zip around autonomously, climbing shelves more than 12m (39ft) high and delivering stock.
They can lift heavy boxes and climb shelves 12m high but will they put humans out of work?
Analysts say AI has boosted the grocer’s competitors – but other factors are also at play.
Those behind the trial hope it will lead to more bus services in less commercial areas.
