Robot Takeover at WalMart Denied

Why so nervous about robots, Wal-Mart?
CNET News.com

After an executive at Frontline Robotics informed me that Wal-Mart is eyeing robot technology, I called Wal-Mart for confirmation.

Wal-Mart representative Christi Gallagher, the company's spokeswoman on supply chain and technology issues, took my call. She also happens to be the media point person on labor relations and employment litigation.

As soon as I mentioned robots, Gallagher seemed eager to end the call. "We are not looking into robots in any way, shape or form," she said abruptly.

As I noted in today's story, the company's attorneys took a particular interest in an eWeek report in May about a robot Wal-Mart is apparently testing in a Utah store.

Wal-Mart's lawyers called the university after it learned of the story, and a university representative then retracted earlier statements about Wal-Mart's interest...

So why is Wal-Mart so touchy about robots?
My hunch is that Wal-Mart's interest in robots goes far beyond helping...


Why so nervous about robots, Wal-Mart? | News.blog | CNET News.com