Robot ‘Persephone’ to Welcome Visitors at Serres’ Alistrati Cave

An AI-enabled robot by the name of “Persephone” will soon be offering guided tours of the Alistrati Cave in the northern Greek town of Serres, authorities announced this week.

Humanoid robot Persephone will be able to speak 40 languages and even answer visitors’ questions.

The robot, purchased by the municipal Alistrati Cave tourism development company, will greet and welcome visitors at the cave entrance and will guide them offering a brief intro before a real guide takes over. Authorities are hoping to expand the cave facilities to include the creation of a special museum with holograms.

The robot was nicknamed Persephone inspired by the Greek myth that has Hades, the god of the underworld, kidnap her and take her to his abode through the gates to the underworld believed to lie under the Alistrati Cave.

The cave, located some 6km southeast of Alistrati town, ‘features’ impressive stalactites and stalagmites and welcomes some 45,000 visitors a year, including students as part of the education ministry’s environmental awareness program.

Municipal authorities were quick to point out that there will be no redundancies and that new jobs will be created.

Photos: alistraticave.gr