MEGA, the robot bringing cheer to municipal police inspections in central Türkiye

By Tunahan Akgun

KAYSERI, Türkiye (AA) - At a market in Türkiye's central Kayseri province, a humanoid robot moves between inspecting products and chatting with shopkeepers, checking price labels one moment and joking about bananas the next.

Named MEGA, the AI-powered robot accompanies municipal police officers on inspections in the Melikgazi district, where its unusual interactions with shopkeepers and customers have brought new energy to the market.

At Carsi Melikgazi, the robot scans shelf labels, compares displayed prices with those charged at checkout and provides information about product shelf lives and hygiene standards. It also relays its findings to relevant municipal departments in real time.

But MEGA's duties go beyond inspections. It reminds shopkeepers to label their products, informs shopkeepers with deficiencies about the applicable rules and thanks businesses that comply with regulations.

Acquired by Melikgazi Municipality, MEGA is part of the local government's efforts to adapt to emerging technologies.

- Expanding robots' role in public services

Melikgazi Mayor Mustafa Palancioglu told Anadolu that the country, its cities and districts were seeking to adapt to technological advances, adding that robots could eventually be used in fields ranging from security and disaster response to cleaning and public information services.

Noting that robots were increasingly becoming part of everyday life, Palancioglu said those used in police, security and military services in various countries could also take on roles in the work of local governments.

"As Melikgazi Municipality, we use our robot in different areas to serve our citizens. Today, it is conducting inspections at Carsi Melikgazi as a municipal police officer and informing citizens. At the same time, it makes people smile and boosts morale," he said.

“Shopkeepers have welcomed encountering a robotic municipal police officer that makes suggestions and issues warnings to help maintain order," he added.

Palancioglu said AI-powered robots needed to be trained in advance to perform specific tasks, noting that staff from the municipality's research and development and information technology departments were working on MEGA.

"The robot we acquired is becoming increasingly involved in public services, taking on new tasks and interacting with our citizens. If you use technology for good, it can bring about many different benefits,” he said.

He also highlighted the municipality's efforts to train young people in technology through high schools and workshops, saying projects such as Gokturk Melikgazi aimed to equip them with skills to develop unmanned aerial vehicles and robotic systems.

- MEGA wins over shopkeepers and customers

Greengrocer Ahmet Murt said MEGA had brought new activity to the market and established a friendly rapport with local businesses.

“There has been quite a change since MEGA came to the market. It inspects us and even comments on our hair and beards. It tells us to put labels on products that don’t have them,” he said.

“Customers really like it and chat with it,” he added. “For example, when they offer it something to eat, MEGA says it only uses oil and cannot eat or drink. That makes us laugh.”

Another greengrocer, Mahmut Ozgoncu, said MEGA's arrival had brought more activity to the market.

He said children were interested in the robot, their families could shop comfortably and customers were happy to see MEGA.

Ozgoncu added that the robot also checked the produce on his stall.

“It paid attention to me and looked at the pomegranates and mandarins on my stall. It said, ‘You have very nice products.’ It was pleased that our products were of good quality. I offered it a banana, and it said, ‘I have diabetes, I can’t eat it,’” he said.

Tunahan Akgün