Miami, FL
Self-driving robots becoming popular for food delivery service in Miami as residents share mixed feelings
They’re the delivery drivers who don’t say much when they drop off your food. Despite their lack of conversation skills, self-driving robots are taking over the streets of Miami.
Yet, some residents have mixed feelings about them.
“I find them to be a little bit annoying, inconvenient,” said Isabella Priest, who lives in the area.
“I like the robots because if you didn’t have the robots, you would have a million bicycle riders from Grubhub,” said Susan, who also lives in the area.
Technology is changing the food service landscape
Serve Robotics Inc. is one of the companies providing their AI-operated, self-driving delivery robots for service in South Florida.
“Everything is fully integrated through the Uber Eats app. Once you get to the check-out page of the merchant, there is a toggle that, as the consumer, you have the power to turn on or off,” Partnership manager Los Nevarez said. “If you leave it on, you have the possibility of getting matched with a robot for your delivery. If you are someone who tips in advance, once you get that robot delivery, you get that tip refunded to you.”
There’s no one operating these robots; they get around on their own.
“It is the computer on board, the AI that’s making the driving decisions. So, it’s taking data from all its different sensors, it’s five cameras, all of these different sensors are providing it that safe path to traverse throughout the city,” said Nevarez.
These robots operate on the sidewalks, can cross streets and typically travel 3 to 5 mph.
They only deliver to places that are no more than 1.25 miles from the restaurant.
Some restaurants seeing a boost in business
Merchants like Rice Mediterranean say the robots have boosted their business substantially.
“It’s a lot, more than a hundred orders daily,” said Pierre El Kossaifi, general manager at Rice Mediterranean.
Once the merchant loads the food into the robot, the door locks, and it’s on its way to its destination.
The person who orders it gets a notification on their phone to unlock it. You press the button on the robot, then dinner is served.
The serve robots operate off an 18-hour battery, and when you see them congregated together, they’re still “on the clock.”
Mixed reviews
They’re the delivery drivers of the future, but they’re here today, despite mixed feelings about their existence.
“They’re bad, they should take them away! They contest the sidewalk,” said Mohamad Alrasheed.
“I like them. I don’t think they’ve gotten in the way or stopped a lot of traffic or anything like that. The more robotic and new age we get, that’s just what it’s going to be,” said Nick Cavil.
If the robots do get stuck, there is an operator who is alerted to help navigate them out.
For more information about these robots and how they operate, check out https://www.serverobotics.com.
Three people were hurt after a building caught fire on Lincoln Road on Sunday, according to authorities.
The Miami Beach Fire Department said it was working a fire near 230 Lincoln Road.
The flames had spread from a fire in a manhole that “ignited an FPL vault of an adjacent building,” officials said.
Three people were taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center with minor injuries.
The building was evacuated, and FPL has shut off power to the surrounding area, the fire department said.
Drivers were asked to avoid the area of Collins Avenue between 16th and 17th streets while crews worked the scene.
Miami, FL
“Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” star Tommie Lee among 6 arrested during World Cup match in Miami, sheriff says
Reality television personality Tommie Lee — whose real name is Atasha Jefferson — best known for her appearances on “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta,” was among six people arrested during the England vs. Norway FIFA World Cup match in Miami on Saturday, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office said 60,024 fans attended the match. Deputies also reported 19 ejections from the stadium, adding that all incidents were isolated and handled quickly.
Authorities have not yet released the circumstances surrounding Jefferson’s arrest or any charges she may face.
A social media account that regularly reports celebrity news claimed Sunday that Jefferson was arrested July 11 and released July 12 after posting a $1,000 bond. The post also alleged she is facing a felony charge of interference with a sporting or entertainment event and said she later shared a video on Snapchat appearing to be in good spirits after her release.
What we don’t know
CBS News has not independently verified those claims, including the reported charge, bond amount or release information, and Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office has not publicly confirmed those details.
CBS News has also not independently verified what led to the encounter, and the sheriff’s office has not said what prompted deputies to take Jefferson into custody.
CBS News has requested Jefferson’s arrest report, booking information and any charging documents from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. A request for comment has also been sent to Jefferson’s representatives.
Reality TV star’s legal troubles in South Florida amid World Cup festivities
Jefferson rose to national prominence as one of the breakout personalities on “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” before later appearing on several Zeus Network reality series, where she has remained a frequent cast member.
This is not Jefferson’s first legal issue in South Florida. In 2024, she was arrested in Miami Beach on a battery charge following an incident outside LIV Nightclub. Court records from that case alleged she physically confronted another person before officers took her into custody.
Saturday’s arrest comes as Miami continues hosting FIFA World Cup matches that have drawn tens of thousands of fans from around the world. Despite the arrests and ejections, the sheriff’s office said the event proceeded safely and described the incidents as isolated.
This is a developing story. CBS News will update this article as additional information, including the exact circumstances surrounding Jefferson’s arrest and any charges, becomes available.
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