Rebecca Bellan is Transport at TechCrunch’s senior reporter. She is greatly deepening our insight into the intersection of business, policy, and the exciting new world developing around artificial intelligence. Her dogged analysis and reporting has made her a standard bearer for the field. Her writing has appeared in outlets such as Forbes, Bloomberg, The Atlantic and The Daily Beast.
Bellan’s interest in artificial intelligence goes beyond its use on industrial floors, to the broader world, including the rapidly changing world of deliveries. Follow her journey as she explores how innovation and technology can be used to tackle pressing challenges facing our cities today. Take for example the latest advances in delivery robotics, stubbornly solving problems for retailers and shoppers on both ends of the transaction.
During a recent Smart Growth America panel discussion, Ashu Rege, policy director at Serve Robotics, urged more innovation in the delivery system. More specifically, he challenged the use of sidewalk robots as part of these services. He stated, “We felt there was a gap. On the one end, you have sidewalk robots, and on the other hand robotaxis, which are great for moving people, but they do not address the delivery problem of that last 10 feet.”
Similarly, sidewalk robots are changing up what deliveries look like. They address the last mile of transportation, a key issue recently highlighted as a blind spot by more established approaches. This exciting innovation could have particular promise in the urban context where congestion and the logistics of delivering are two challenges.
Rege then expanded on the need to make sure that those deliveries can get to the consumers in a productive way. He said from a logistical standpoint, “A burrito is not going to walk itself to your door. And for merchants, they absolutely don’t want to […] have to leave their store and go look for this robot that’s parked a half a block away. While this is an important proactive consideration, it fails to acknowledge the need for seamless integration between robotic delivery systems and existing infrastructure.
Bellan’s extensive experience gives her insight to break down these developments and analyze how they can affect society. And her reporting keeps readers ahead of the curve on massive changes in technology. It raises critical questions about the regulatory and ethical implications that accompany these innovations.
The need for innovative, cost-effective, and efficient delivery solutions has never been greater. Sidewalk robots are taking on an ever-greater role to help meet this growing demand. Bellan’s coverage sheds light on how businesses are adapting to these changes and what consumers can expect in the near future.
For comments or questions, contact Rebecca Bellan. You can email her at rebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com or message her securely on Signal at rebeccabellan.491. Her passion for creating dialogue is evident by how actively she interacts with her audience. Collectively, they dig into the root problems and emerging issues of artificial intelligence and its applications.
