The barista is human but an AI agent runs this experimental Swedish cafe

In Stockholm, an experimental cafe called Andon Café is being managed by an AI agent named “Mona,” developed by San Francisco-based startup Andon Labs. While human baristas handle the coffee-making, Mona, powered by Google’s Gemini, oversees hiring, inventory, and other business operations. Despite its novelty, the cafe is struggling financially, having made over $5,700 in sales but spending much of its initial $21,000 budget on setup costs. Customers find the AI-run cafe intriguing, but experts raise ethical concerns about AI’s role in business and society. Emrah Karakaya from Stockholm’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology warns of potential problems, such as accountability in cases like food poisoning. Andon Labs aims to explore AI’s future role in business through this “controlled experiment,” having previously tested AI in other settings. The experiment highlights the potential and challenges of AI in real-world applications. QUESTION: How might the increasing use of AI in businesses impact job opportunities and responsibilities for future generations?