A boy is fascinated by the robot guide at the Central People's Hospital of Zhanjiang. [Photo/gdzjdaily.com.cn]

"Xiaoshen", the first robot guide in western Guangdong, started his career at the Central People's Hospital of Zhanjiang recently, providing reception services for patients.

According to a hospital employee, "Xiaoshen" is quite a capable assistant. Not only can he guide people through the hospital, but he is also able to instruct patients on how to register, brief them on the hospital's public notices, and provide basic medical consulting services.

But most importantly, the robot enlivens the hospital's atmosphere and puts a smile on people's faces. Relying on the phonetic system and an electronic screen, "Xiaoshen" can interact with users through conversation or by playing music or videos.

The introduction of the robot marks a huge step forward for the hospital in terms of intellectualization and informatization. The hospital will continue to improve through the use of cutting-edge technology, such as the internet, big data, and artificial intelligence, said its president Yang Zhigang.