Your Delivery Robot Is Here

Aarian Marshall: Hello.

Michael Calore: Given today's topic, I'm curious to know what is the most unexpected thing you've both ordered through a delivery app?

Louise Matsakis: So I was on a press trip to China recently, and I was taking notes during an interview, and I got pen all over my white pants. So I ordered the Chinese equivalent of a Tide pen. I think that's probably the weirdest thing I've ever gotten on demand.

Aarian Marshall: I am so constitutionally against just paying for delivery even before there were apps. I hated paying delivery people. Much respect what they do, but I'd rather spend my money in other ways. So I think recently I got really desperate and ordered pad Thai, and that was wild for me. So that's where I am.

Michael Calore: That's your most unexpected thing?

Aarian Marshall: Yeah, the fact that I used it at all is unexpected.

Michael Calore: Yeah, I mean I live in one of the most population-dense parts of the west coast of California, and I rarely use delivery apps, but I would say probably the most unexpected thing I've ever ordered is a bottle of Jameson Irish whiskey.

Aarian Marshall: Respect.

Michael Calore: This is WIRED's Uncanny Valley, a show about the people, power, and influence of Silicon Valley. Today we're talking about how after years of struggles delivery app companies are still trying to deploy their robots right to your doorstep. At an event earlier this week, DoorDash unveiled its own new autonomous robot called Dot. The company says it's part of a goal to have a hybrid, quote, "Work model for deliveries going forward, working with humans, but also drones and autonomous vehicles in the mix." But DoorDash is not alone in its efforts to have your dinner delivered by a robot. The industry of autonomous deliveries has been steadily evolving and has faced considerable challenges along the way. We'll dive into why some of these companies are still betting big on delivery robots, the race to create the right technology to use in them and what having these robot fleets in our cities could mean for all of us. I'm Michael Calore, director of consumer tech and culture.