SAN FRANCISCO -- While merrily chirping, dancing and posing for selfies, a robot named Pepper looks like another expensive toy at a San Francisco mall. But don't dismiss it as mere child's play.

SoftBank Corp CEO Masayoshi Son speaks with the company's robot, Pepper, during a press conference in Maihama, near Tokyo, Thursday, June 18. (AP) URAYASU, Japan -- Technology company Softbank's ...

Pepper was Softbank’s version of a friendly robot assistant. It’s more humanoid than the other robots on this list, because it was meant to be used for customer service. It could speak 15 languages ...

The robotic Pepper Parlor puts a Star Wars-esque spin on dinner and a show in Tokyo. Patrons may order from, converse with and be entertained by a robot fleet that outnumbers its human handlers at ...