Eye on AI: The service industry
WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- In a fast-evolving world, artificial intelligence is appearing everywhere. A.I. is on the move at Golden Nest Pancakes & Café in Wauwatosa.
"We actually have two robots. They're assistance. They help move things along a little bit quicker," said restaurant manager Ashley Mueller.
Mueller says the two robots, Eggbert and Brunchy are not waiters and don’t take orders.
The computer-driven, Wi-Fi connected robots with built-in cameras can even detect patrons in their path. They can even ask them to politely clear the way.
The kitchen is where their journey begins for the robots, taking food to the dining area.
"They run the food. So, they stand in the kitchen. They are loaded up, our expediter who organizes and presents all the food, they load it, and it goes straight to the table and the server meets it there to serve the food," said Mueller.
The robots here, from Bear Robotics, were born from a need for more staffing during the pandemic. Mueller says the robots aren’t replacing jobs at the restaurant.
"Absolutely not, it’s a tool my staff uses. We still employ a full-time food runner in addition to the robots on the weekend. We still have a full-service team, full bartender," said Mueller.
In Nevada, Richtech Robotics is creating A.I. robots for hospitality and medical industries.
"We're focused on providing robotic and A.I. solutions into the hospitality service sectors. So, for us that kind of spans restaurants, hotels, hospitals, universities. Any type of place where people are being served," said the company's president, Matt Casella.
"We have taken a really strong stance that our robots are here to augment the existing human capital."
As A.I. is seemingly growing every day, CBS 58 asked Casella his thoughts on robot technology, and if it would be the norm in the next 10-15 years.
"It's going to be even sooner that people are going to be not surprised to see a robotic server walking around in a restaurant or through some other companies," said Casella.