THE WHAT? XWELL has debuted its AI-powered express manicure at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City.

THE DETAILS Said to be the first robot manicure, XWELL has teamed up with Clockwork to launch the fully autonomous manicure service, which couples proprietary artificial intelligence with 3D technology to paint nails in under 10 minutes without human intervention.

The AI-powered robots will be launched across the XWELL’s portfolio of 31 spa locations in early 2023.

THE WHY? Looking to adapt to consumers’ ‘changing expectations’, the new service signals the faith place in the resurgence of the travel retail industry, as well as the ongoing lure of non-human-to-human contact in a post-pandemic, interconnected society.  

XWELL Chief Executive Officer Scott Milford, said: “This is just one of the ways that XWELL is enhancing its spa services to meet the needs of clients on their journey and demonstrating continued innovation in wellness offerings.”