In February, FedEx debuted its SameDay Bots, which are parcel delivery robots that use a combination of artificial intelligence and motion sensors to navigate city streets and sidewalks.
First of all, @FedEx, never get a robot to do a New Yorker’s job. We have the finest workers in the world.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) November 23, 2019
Second of all, we didn’t grant permission for these to clog up our streets. If we see ANY of these bots we’ll send them packing. https://t.co/XxJIrIW9vr
Last week, social media users began reporting sightings of the bots in New York City. But based on a tweet from Mayor Bill de Blasio, FedEx never bothered to get permission to test the robots in the Big Apple — and it could be the bots’ undoing.
NYC isn’t relying solely on social media to get its message across, either. On Monday, the New York Post reported obtaining a letter lawyers from the city’s Department of Transportation sent to FedEx. In it, they threaten to snatch the robots right off the street if FedEx doesn’t immediately remove them.