Nestle has employed a fleet of chirpy robots to sell its coffee machines in Japanese stores. The Hollywood heart-throb, who has become the global face of the Nespresso brand, has been given the elbow in favour of Pepper, a cheeky and chatty android, which its makers claim can answer customers' questions. Number two: A post-meal cup of coffee," Pepper asked a TV personality at a promotion event Monday. The gimmick will eventually see 1,000 stores across Japan with their own Pepper, which makers say can understand up to 80 percent of conversations.



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