In search of labor and striving to free staff from tedious, repetitive tasks, fast-food restaurant chains are outfitting their kitchens with robots.
Using artificial intelligence, computer vision technology, and a mechanical arm, Miso Robotics’ Flippy 2 has been deployed in Chipotle, White Castle, and Wing Zone. White Castle said it plans to add 100 flippy robots to operate the fry station at its restaurants across the country.
“The tide has turned, it’s no longer a question of robotics coming into the industry,” said Jake Brewer, chief strategy officer at Miso Robotics. “It’s a foregone conclusion. The question is at what pace and in what form.”
According to a forecast by restaurant consultancy Aaron Allen & Associates, up to 82% of restaurant positions could be partially replaced by robots. Automation could save US fast food restaurants more than $12 billion in annual wages, the group said.
Other companies in this space include Picnic, whose pizza station can cook up to 130 ready-to-bake pizzas an hour, and Autec, which has a line of sushi robots.
So what impact will robots have on the fast food industry and the livelihoods of its workers? CNBC took a behind-the-scenes look at restaurant robot maker Miso Robotics to find out.
Watch the video to learn more.
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