Chicago Has A Delivery Robot Problem, And The Videos Are Wild

I have officially reached the point where I need to ask: Can we please stop making robots do everything?

I say this as a Rockford-area resident who has watched the whole delivery-robot trend from a safe distance.

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Listen, I know robots will play a large role in our future lives, but I can't help it, seeing them in stores or making deliveries completely weirds me out.

Then I saw video footage of Coco delivery robot pandemonium from Lincoln Park in Chicago this week, and now I need to know one thing: Why are there SO MANY robots on one sidewalk?!

Delivery Robots Swarm Chicago Sidewalk

I've never lived in a city as big as Chicago, but I know big city living comes with big city conveniences like robots delivering meals straight to your doorstep.

READ MORE: Amazon is Expanding Drone Delivery to Illinois

An article from Block Club Chicago say Coco’s little pink-and-orange delivery robots have become an increasingly common sight around the city since 2024, and that around 100 robots currently operate on the city's North and West sides.

I get that delivery robots are supposed to help reduce traffic on the streets of Chicago, but this is absolutely crazy:

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Honestly, after seeing that video, my first thought was that somebody had accidentally opened the robot garage door and they all escaped, but it appears this is becoming an increasingly common problem in Chicago.

According to Block Club Chicago:

In neighborhoods where the machines have become a regular presence, residents have raised concerns about robots blocking sidewalks, interfering with pedestrians, accessibility for people with disabilities, surveillance and the potential loss of delivery jobs — prompting petitions and other pushback as companies continue expanding their fleets.

Look, I understand the argument. If a tiny robot can deliver food without putting another car on congested streets, maybe that's a good thing.

But a sidewalk packed with little robots forcing people to dodge them and walk in the streets? That's where I draw the line. What do YOU think?