Pasadena, California, is set to launch the world’s first fully autonomous restaurant, controlled and operated by robots that prepare and serve the food. The eatery is called CaliExpress by Flippy™; which is derived from a partnership with Cali Group, a holding company using technology to transform the restaurant and retail industries, Miso Robotics, creator of Flippy (the world’s first AI-powered robotic fry station), and PopID, a technology company that leverages ordering and transactions with biometrics.
Flippy has already been integrated into other restaurant locations such as Jack in the Box and White Castle. SEE: Restaurant Jobs Are Coming To An End As More Restaurant Chains Are Investing In Robots To Replace Real Workers
Though CaliExpress is designed to be fully autonomous, some actual employees will be on staff to oversee the operations, though Miso did not disclose how many in their press release published on December 5th. The firm did say that those who work there will receive “above average wages.”
According to the press release, “Utilizing the most advanced systems in food technology, both grill and fry stations are fully automated, powered by proprietary leading-edge artificial intelligence and robotics. Guests will watch their food being cooked robotically after checking in with their PopID accounts on self-ordering kiosks to get personalized order recommendations and make easy and fast payments.”
PopID is a contactless facial recognition payment system that allows customers to pay for goods and services with just their faces.
“Eat the future” is the slogan for CaliExpress, which will allow “guests [to] watch their food being cooked robotically after using self-ordering kiosks to get personalized order recommendations and make easy and fast payments.” The menu is limited to just a burger, cheeseburger, lettucewrap, french fries, and an assortment of beverages.
Miso added, “The CaliExpress by Flippy location will also be a pseudo-museum experience presented by Miso Robotics. Including dancing robot arms from retired Flippy units, experimental 3D-printed artifacts from past development, photographic displays, and much more, the space is designed to serve noteworthy food, plus inspire the next generation of kitchen AI and automation entrepreneurs. Local schools and educational groups are encouraged to reach out for tours.”
Alana Abbitt, Vice President of Product Development at Miso Robotics, told ABC 7,
It’s not a Terminator, it’s not Transformers. It’s a very friendly, helpful robot. There’s nice robotics, there’s Roombas, there’s things in your house that have become much more a part of daily life. That’s what we’re trying to do.
John Miller, CEO of PopID and board member of Miso Robotics, said in a statement:
To our knowledge, this is the world’s first operating restaurant where both ordering and every single cooking process are fully automated. The marriage of these various technologies to create the most autonomous restaurant in the world is the culmination of years of research, development, and investment in a family of revolutionary companies.
Almost one year ago exactly McDonalds opened a fully-autonomous location in Texas. In February, 2022, Wingstop debuted what they called “the restaurant of the future.” Their trial location has no tables and is totally cashless.
The restaurant industry is rapidly adopting robotics and autonomous machinery that is replacing cooks and staff, as noted in a number reports by The WinePress.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
“It’s not a Terminator, it’s not Transformers. It’s a very friendly, helpful robot.” Well, that’s a reassuring. Thanks for clarifying that for me!
It’s worth noting that not that long ago California Governor Gavin Newsom set a new precedent by raising the minimum wage for fast food workers in his state to $20. But, unsurprisingly, some chains such as McDonalds and Chipotle announced soon thereafter they would be raising the price of their menu items. But on top of that, this move comes at a time when these franchises and corporations are looking to retrofit their locations by going completely digital and autonomous, which obviously means they will be laying-off staff.
The “shock” value of these announcements of businesses and restaurants going autonomously and cashless, is quickly losing its luster, as this type of stuff continues to become more and more common as the world continues to march closer to the beast system…
[16] And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: [17] And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. [18] Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. Revelation 13:16-18
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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Yup it’s friendly, until these robots start flipping customers up and down like beef patties.
What about the rubber-faced, excessive plastic surgery people? Won’t scanning their faces glitch the program? They don’t even look like our species anymore.
What’s the point of going to a robotic restaurant? I can go to a grocery store and pick up frozen food — and eat at home among friendly human faces. Or I can to do a drive up fast food joint and eat in the park. NYC has the cafeteria where one just pops money in a slot and opens a window to buy food — sandwiches, desserts, etc. No human contact needed.
You seen one to many sci-fi movies robots can only do what we program them 2 do
yeh like right good
So they programmed this robot to murder this South Korean robotics technician, right?
https://winepressnews.com/2023/11/12/robot-slaughters-south-korean-man-after-mistaking-him-for-a-box-of-paprika/
Artificial intelligence makes decisions for itself. Google had 2 AI robots that started communicating with each other in an unknown language Google shut them down immediately!
So yes robots & Ai are very dangerous technologies! !
Why in the world would I go to a restaurant to be served by technology. Absolutely NOT….And why would I support getting rid of jobs for a robot? I’d never support this or go to a business that uses this. Never.
Well for one, the robot won’t spit in your food because you are white.
It won’t call in sick, be rude to your customers, or play on it’s phone all day while demanding 18 dollars an hour for the job it’s doing very poorly.
It won’t be a constant drain on your HR system either with endless, mindless hurt feelings claims.
A big WIN / WIN if you ask me.
Oh yeah – gotta be kidding. People want to trust food prep. I would think this would be rejected bigtime.
Just another step toward putting everyone out of a job…..THEN WHAT??
No Job, No Income, No income, No money, NO MONEY, you NO BUY NUTHIN!
Auto Biz shuts down!
The news casters reporting this, will also too go the way of the fast food worker.
You do not compute, no food for you, see error code; e-crap…
LOL
It’s time to start cutting faces off so we can get a free meal.
I love the “Would you like to leave a tip?” screen, where the customer can choose between 10%, 15%, 20% or “No, I enjoy spit in my food.”
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