CaliExpress by Flippy, described as the world’s first fully autonomous and AI-powered restaurant, has opened in Pasadena, California.
The restaurant is a collaboration between Cali Group, a holding company using technology to transform dining and retail; Miso Robotics, the creator of Flippy – the world’s first AI-powered robotic fry station; and PopID, a technology company simplifying orders and payments via biometrics.
The restaurant’s grill and fry stations are fully automated and powered by AI and robotics. Guests can watch as their food is cooked robotically after arriving and checking in with their PopID accounts on self-ordering kiosks.
The grill robot grinds the beef after the order is placed, while Flippy the fry station cooks fries to exact times. The menu of burgers, cheeseburgers and fries is simple.
“To our knowledge, this is the world’s first operating restaurant where both ordering and every single cooking process are fully automated,” said John Miller, CEO of PopID and a board member of Miso Robotics.
He added, “The marriage of these various technologies to create the most autonomous restaurant in the world is the culmination of years of research, development, and investment in a family of revolutionary companies.”
The new CaliExpress by Flippy location also offers a museum-style experience with dancing robot arms from retired Flippy units, experimental 3D-printed artefacts from previous development, and photographic displays.
“Most autonomous restaurant in the world”
“AI-powered, robotic order-taking and cooking enables the major chains that feed America to substantially improve quality, consistency and speed,” said Rich Hull, CEO of Miso Robotics.
“Flippy has been an incredible success story and now everyone in Southern California can come take a look — and a taste — for themselves.”
Last year, Six Flags Magic Mountain in California opened an Amazon-powered cashierless shop where guests can buy products without waiting to pay.
Images courtesy of Miso Robotics and Cali Group
