Megan Lander | Student Life Editor
April 18, 2025
Coco Robotics is a robot food delivery service of numerous college campuses, and since it is convenient and time saving, many college students use this service to get a quick dinner or snack without leaving their campus. However, recently, a range of controversies have sparked despite the benefits the little delivery robots offer. Their integration into campus has not been without its challenges that have caused concerns among students, faculty, and even as far as the surrounding urban community.
One main issue people tend to complain about is that they are in fear of their personal privacy and security being breached since these intelligent robots have cameras on all sides of them to navigate and to confirm deliveries. Transporting snacks is not their only application– they are constantly watching. According to an internal communication system, Coco has provided their footage to the LAPD for surveillance reasons, leaving the public questioning to what extent this data is allowed to be shared without consent. It may be uncomfortable knowing that while students protest or have a private conversation, there are mini robots on campus that double as agents for police departments. This undermines the expectation of privacy people want and can limit free expression in society.
Since the introduction of this new type of technology, some greatly appreciate the service and convenience of the Coco robots, while some feel otherwise. There has been an outburst of vandalism and destruction of the little robots on campus and on urban sidewalks where people mess around with them for fun. People will kick them over, purposely obstruct their paths, or decorate them with stickers and paint. Junior Kiara Kernot said that on her recent visit in L.A., she “saw a group of people hitting one of the food delivery robots and felt bad for it.” This raises deeper questions on technological integration: are students using humor in rebellion to push back at the increase of automation in their lives?
Another shift in the community are working roles. Students on campus would pick up a little extra money by delivering food to people and playing a part in campus life. Now, the robot services removes humans from the picture by offering faceless contact. Not only does this reduce the amount of jobs, it also reduces human interactions and connections people make through meeting others even if it is only a subtle tie. Another thing to mention is that when robots are the ones delivering food, there is no need to practice manners. People can become impolite, impatient, disrespectful, or they can even completely disregard social engagement when they are not in contact with other humans. This trend can spread outside of robot service and become a normality in reality with real human relationships. People are slowly becoming more and more disconnected from the campus atmosphere.
The Coco Robotics delivery system is a clear shift into what technology can do for efficiency and convenience. However, everything comes with a cost and from modern experience with new technologies in society, a glimpse of what the future might look like is seen if life is shaped by automation. Junior Ellie Martin noted how she “likes the idea but it is scary how there are so many robots wandering around. It’s like a movie.” There will always be deeper issues but also major benefits when it comes to new innovations like this. Coco Robotics and everything in between is not only a futuristic representation of mobile services, but an evolving relationship between humans and machines.
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