A robot that provides massages – that is what it looks and looks like

A step into the dimly lit room of a spa, and I’m already looking forward to a calming, therapeutic experience: a one-hour full body massage that can chill out and revitalize me.

But a recent appointment on the ila Only Spa within the luxurious Lotte New York Palace hotel was nothing like previous spa experiences.

Although a human accompanied me into the room, a machine performed the massage—specifically, a synthetic intelligence robot, courtesy of Aescape, a New York-based lifestyle robotics company.

Entrepreneur Eric Litman founded Aescape in 2017 after suffering a herniated disc in his neck, which he attributed to frequent flying, he said.

He flew so often, he said, that he needed a each day massage for months. Those appointments got him considering: For people like him who need regular massages, is there a greater option than a day on the spa?

Litman secured $80 million in funding and invested seven years in research and development before launching the world's first customizable robotic massager in March.

Lotte New York Palace is the primary hotel to partner with Aescape; it leased the machine and debuted the treatments on July 18. The company says the device can also be available at select Equinox gyms in New York City and at Press Modern Massage in Union Square.

But that's only the start. Aescape plans to launch quite a few partnerships throughout this yr, Litman said.

Tristina Damico, the hotel's spa director and a licensed massage therapist, said Aescape is a very good fit for the 900-room Lotte New York Palace hotel, which attracts business and leisure travelers.

Since the robot's launch, many various people have booked appointments with it, she said, including hotel guests and New Yorkers who live or work in Midtown Manhattan. Because the massages are oil-free, they often schedule their appointments during their lunch break, she said.

“It’s a quick way to recharge your batteries,” Damico said.

According to Litman, the flexibility to book massages on demand will fill a spot in the worldwide wellness market, which is predicted to achieve a volume of $7.4 trillion by 2025, in response to the U.S. nonprofit organization Global Wellness Institute.

“I began researching why people get massages and was surprised that the majority people [want] to repair something that's happening of their body,” he said. “A whole lot of people wanted more specificity – more pressure here, less focus there – and had trouble getting that in a way that worked for them.”

A shortage of massage therapists in an ever-growing industry also contributed to the creation of Aescape, Litman said, although he acknowledged that these are very different fields.

Therapists have different styles and skills, but Aescape's robot aims to replicate the same experience at each visit, storing client data that is available on any device.

“We memorize the body's preferences,” Litman said. “The idea is that we develop a massage that gets to know you over time.”

For those who are uncomfortable undressing in front of a stranger, Aescape solves the problem. This massage requires clothing.

Before the treatment, I changed into Aerwear, the brand's own spandex-like clothing designed to reduce friction between the robot and human skin. After I changed, a staff member came back and showed me how to operate the robot.

I laid face down on the massage table, which was firmer than a typical spa table. It also has armrests, a footrest, and a face hole under which is a tablet that allowed me to adjust the table and music to my comfort level.

Aescape focuses only on the back, so unfortunately there are no leg or foot massages. Sensors scanned my body—the system reportedly captures 1.2 million data points to map a user's muscle structure—before its futuristic arms and ankles moved up and down my back in a smooth parallel motion.

The limbs were hard but warm. A screen showed every step of my massage and allowed me to control the pressure.

I typically ask massage therapists for moderate pressure, but Aescape's medium setting felt intense. I was able to tolerate the robot's lowest force for most of my massage. However, I did comfortably crank the device up to full power during the glute area toward the end of the massage.

I felt the machine move with my breathing, and I could stop the robot when I needed a break. With the push of a button, I could move around, lift my head, or even stand up for a quick stretch.

In that sense, I think Aescape could benefit travelers looking for short, flexible spa treatments. The robot could also appeal to people looking for cheaper massages that are easy to book – Aescape sessions are booked through an app. The price for a 30-minute massage at the Lotte New York Palace is $75.

My original appointment was postponed because of maintenance work on the device, but the subsequent day the robot was back in operation.

As someone who suffers from chronic pain, I do know that the kneading, rubbing, and squeezing of human hands can do wonders to alleviate discomfort, but I haven't seen comparable results with the AI-powered robot.

I didn't find the session relaxing and didn't feel as pampered as I’d on a spa day, however the experience was a fun escape from the chaos of Midtown Manhattan.