○On April 1, the same day California’s new $20-an-hour minimum wage went into effect for fast-food workers, a new restaurant opened in northeast Los Angeles with significantly less work for its employees.
CaliExpress by Flippy claims to be the world’s first fully autonomous restaurant that uses a system of AI-powered robots to mass-produce fast-food burgers and fries. Although it still requires a few people to push buttons on the machines and assemble the burgers and toppings, related companies advertise their technology as a way to significantly reduce labor costs. “Let’s eat the future,” they suggest.
During my visit to Cali Express last week, I experienced an American lunch with a touch of existential horror. Upon entering the restaurant near the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, I was met with a large poster advertising an “amazing AI deep-frying robot,” but there were few actual customers, mostly journalists. A TV crew was filming above the grill machine.
The space featured an early prototype of a robotic arm and a reinterpretation of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, depicting a human hand reaching for a robotic claw to grab a french fry instead of the hand of God.
This burger joint, CaliExpress, is a collaboration between multiple companies serving as a “test kitchen” for fast food technology’s future. The burger-making machines are from Cucina, specializing in automating food production, and the BurgerChef is a response to the 65% rise in food service wages over the past 15 years. Flippy, the french fry-making robot, was created by Miso Robotics, a local startup founded by Caltech graduates.
I received a kitchen tour from Dennis Coons of PopID, a biometric ordering facial recognition company, showcasing the various stages of my order processing. From grinding Wagyu steak to assembling my burger, the process was mostly automated.
Flippy utilizes AI technology to enhance its frying capabilities, allowing it to handle various food items beyond just fries. Its computer vision enables it to adapt to changing kitchen conditions and tasks, making it a versatile and efficient kitchen tool.
Anderson, one of Miso Robotics’ co-founders, highlighted that Flippy is intended to assist human workers, not replace them entirely. By collaborating with robots, employees can focus on more skill-oriented tasks, providing a more diverse work experience.
Flippy’s interface is user-friendly yet requires some training for maintenance and operational support. Human workers are essential for cleaning and maintenance tasks that Flippy cannot perform independently, emphasizing the collaborative nature of human-robot interaction in the kitchen.
What does AI actually do?
AI technology in the kitchen allows for intricate and precise tasks, such as adapting to various kitchen layouts and handling a range of food items. Flippy’s computer vision capability enhances its efficiency in reacting to visual input, mirroring human-like responses to visual stimuli.
Flippy is a robot with the ability to cook burgers and fries. Photo courtesy: Provided by Miso Robotics
AI technology enables Flippy to not only fry fries but also chicken wings and onion rings, adjusting cooking times based on the food type. It also enhances scheduling and predictive capabilities, optimizing kitchen operations during peak and off-peak hours.
Anderson emphasized that Flippy is intended to complement human workers, providing a supportive role in the kitchen environment rather than replacing them entirely.
Tasting the Results
After the hype surrounding the robot-made burger and fries, the overall taste was average. While the fries were crispy and flavorful, the burger’s quality was mediocre. The combination of human craftsmanship and traditional fast food flavors seemed to be unmatched by the robotic counterpart.
Still image from CaliExpress’s YouTube video. Photo: YouTube
Currently, only beef burgers and fries are available on the menu, with limited customer interaction during my visit. While the automation provided convenience, the human touch and traditional fast food flavors seemed more appealing.
Returning to a traditional fast food restaurant for comparison, I ordered a cheeseburger made by human hands at McDonald’s. Despite its simplicity and lower cost, the traditional burger offered a familiar and comforting taste that was missing from the robot-made meal.
Ultimately, the efficiency of human workers in delivering food promptly and with a personal touch demonstrated that, for now, humans still hold an advantage over machines in the fast food industry.
Source: www.theguardian.com
