ElevenLabs in New York: When AI Serves Coffee and Negotiates Prices

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Key Takeaways

1ElevenLabs has opened a pop-up in New York where a robot serves iced coffee, but still requires human assistance for certain tasks.

2Visitors can negotiate the prices of merchandise with an AI merchant, who accepts good arguments but resists anger.

3The event also offers immersive experiences with AI narrators, such as Albert Einstein reading audiobooks.

💡Why it matters — This event illustrates the current advancements and limitations of AI in everyday and commercial interactions.

An Immersion into the Future with ElevenLabs

In New York, ElevenLabs recently opened a pop-up that promises a dive into the world of artificial intelligence. Upon my arrival, I was greeted by a robot that served me an iced coffee. However, the experience was not entirely automated: an employee had to step in to add almond milk to my drink.

The event took place in the bustling SoHo neighborhood and aimed to showcase ElevenLabs' advanced vocal capabilities. Sam Sklar, a representative of the company, explained that their founder always encourages showing rather than just talking about their innovations. Yet, some demonstrations, like that of the barista robot, revealed limitations.

The Art of Bargaining with an AI

One of the main attractions of the pop-up was the opportunity to negotiate the price of merchandise with an artificial intelligence. I attempted to haggle for a baseball cap, initially priced at $27. Despite my efforts to bring the price down to $15, the AI only agreed to lower it to $24. This interaction highlighted my shortcomings as a negotiator but also showcased the AI's ability to manage commercial transactions interactively.

ElevenLabs designed this space to attract various types of visitors, from existing customers to curious attendees of New York Tech Week, as well as intrigued passersby. The idea was to demonstrate how their voice technology could fit into diverse contexts. The company specializes in speech and translation, which explains the presence of numerous vocal devices in the space.

The Coffee Robot: A Mixed Experience

Upon entering the pop-up, the line for the coffee robot seemed short, but the wait turned out to be longer than expected. The robot, named Adam, was programmed to prepare iced coffees, but its operation was sometimes erratic. After several attempts, Adam managed to serve me a coffee, although adding almond milk required human intervention.

Despite these minor inconveniences, the experience was entertaining and offered a free drink to visitors. This shows that while AI can accomplish certain tasks, it is not yet fully autonomous.

Negotiating with an AI Merchant

The pop-up also served as a merchandise sales venue, where visitors could test their negotiation skills against an AI. Products, ranging from t-shirts to caps, were laid out on a long table. Visitors could sit in front of screens equipped with headphones to attempt to negotiate prices.

Sam Sklar explained that the AI was programmed to respond positively to rational arguments but resisted anger. One visitor even spent 30 minutes trying to convince the AI to lower the price of an item. For my part, after a few exchanges, I decided not to buy the cap, returning my headphones to their place.

Audiobooks and Other AI Innovations

Among the other experiences offered, I was able to listen to an AI version of Albert Einstein reading "Pride and Prejudice." ElevenLabs provides a variety of famous voices for audiobook narration, including those of Michael Caine and Judy Garland. Each voice adds a different nuance to the listening experience.

In addition, the pop-up featured an AI photo editor, a feature that has become common at tech events. These AI photo booths allow users to transform images into animations or comic strips, adding a playful touch to the experience.

Calls with an AI Agent

In a corner of the pop-up, a phone booth allowed visitors to chat with an AI agent. I chose to explore the media sector, and the agent informed me about how ElevenLabs' technology is used by television networks for translating their programs.

This practical application of AI seemed more promising than the other demonstrations at the pop-up. It shows how AI can genuinely enhance existing processes in specific industries.

As I left the event, I felt a slight buzz from the caffeine, even though I had only consumed part of my coffee. While this event did not convince me that AI is ready to revolutionize our daily lives, it provided an entertaining glimpse into what the future might hold.