I got massaged by a robot and I have thoughts - The San Francisco Standard

[mnews]

Two hulking, white robotic arms shot out the sides of the massage table. In place of hands were curved, disclike nubs, giving a high-tech crustacean aesthetic. The vibe was more spinal surgery than spa experience. Yet I was there to be massaged. The robot nubs, heated to a toasty 95 degrees, would soon get to work tenderizing my muscles.


Was I a little nervous that the nubs would bruise, chafe, or otherwise harm me? Yes I was. But I was also excited. This was my chance to try Aescape, the robot massage startup that’s been making waves in East Coast fitness centers and spas since July.


Some $80 million and many years of R&D went into building the first robot masseur, according to CEO Eric Litman. “This is the first real application of robots fully autonomously coming in contact with human bodies,” he said. “That required a tremendous amount of planning and technical execution.”


Since October, Bay Area influencers had been getting demos of Aescape at the company’s new SoMa location, and I, frankly, was growing jealous. “The robot hands felt like human hands,” gushed Matt Benfield on Tiktok. “It felt like a normal massage,” reported Kaitlyn Edejer. “I’m not a fan of normal massages,” posted Gilded Ashes. “This was a 10/10 experience.”


Regular (ie, non-influencer) San Franciscans will be able to try the service for themselves by late February, Litman told The Standard. Pricing for the robot massage varies based on location, with Aescapes currently stationed in New York, Tennessee, Florida, Maryland, and Washington D.C., plus some hush-hush “sports team training centers.” Expect to pay a $2 minimum per minute, so likely at least $60 — but there’s no tip required! I received my robo-massage for free as a media member, but I still wondered if I’d pay the price for the experience.