Hollywood has long envisioned a future where robots and humans work together. In a Pasadena suburb near Tinseltown, this vision is becoming a reality at CaliExpress, a restaurant where AI and robots are employed in the kitchen. Vic Aulakh, the business owner, shares that it's a groundbreaking moment with so much technology in one place. The establishment utilizes a grill robot by Cucina and "Flippy, " a robot from Miso Robotics designed for frying. These robots have impressive capabilities: Flippy can produce 250 pounds of French fries per hour, while the grill robot can cook roughly 100 patties in the same time frame. Notably, they don't require breaks or days off, solving labor shortage problems and addressing potential dangers associated with these roles. Flippy's presence extends beyond CaliExpress, as it can also be found in chain restaurants like White Castle and Jack in the Box. Miso Robotics, the company behind Flippy, began developing the automaton six years ago, aiming to excel in repetitive tasks performed in hazardous environments. The goal is to enable restaurant workers to focus on the essential human touch. CaliExpress doesn't solely rely on robot chefs; their ordering system utilizes artificial intelligence and employs Pop ID's facial recognition software for seamless tracking of food preferences and payments. The system's creator emphasizes that it's not intended for surveillance purposes.

Nonetheless, the restaurant will retain some human employees, specifically two "back of house" workers responsible for adding finishing touches to the meals. In comparison to traditional, non-automated kitchens, this is a significantly reduced workforce. With rising minimum wages, such as California's fast food workers soon earning $20 per hour, this reduction becomes an advantageous factor for businesses. Aulakh points out that while some jobs may be affected, the technology creates new employment opportunities and requires ongoing maintenance. A recent MIT study suggests that AI can only replace a limited number of jobs, and in most instances, it doesn't make economic sense to employ AI for essential tasks. However, a government report from December 2023 identifies AI as a potential threat to financial stability. Another study indicates that robotics could handle approximately 82% of restaurant jobs, a significant finding in an industry often grappling with understaffing. Both robots at CaliExpress are rented, and technicians oversee them round the clock. If any issues arise during meal times, these technicians can manually take over cooking by flipping up a barrier. Anderson assures that in case Flippy encounters any problems, the process can seamlessly switch to manual operation as it normally would. Aulakh optimistically hopes that the robots will contribute to enhancing the restaurant's food, ensuring each burger is consistently cooked to perfection.