We like robots and we love to eat. When it comes down to having our food cooked, this task is done by a human. However, such might not be the case for very long as robots are getting in on the action. We envision a future where most restaurants are tricked out with robot chefs instead of humans, something that could pose a problem.
Restaurant owners and their employees over the years haven't always been the best of friends. Currently, employees are fighting for a $15 minimum wage, and with this being an alleged issue for many restaurants, we can now see where robots will get an opening to enter the workforce.
Silicon Valley's Momentum Machines, a small group in the United States, is all about automated restaurant systems. This system is pretty powerful as it can create and serve 400 burgers in a single hour. There are also several restaurants in China and Japan where robots cook and serve food, a clear sign of things to come.
Another sign of robots taking over can be seen from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology dining room. Students can now eat meals prepared by robots. According to Tech Insider, this system is known as Spyce Kitchen, and can prepare a meal in 5 minutes.
Humans are needed to restock the robot with ingredients, but from there, it takes over and gets the job done all by itself. It's an interesting concept that has become a reality, but only time will tell if it will find a home outside of the university.
There's hope yet for humans in the restaurant workplace. Some companies in China decided to get rid of their robot workers because they find them inefficient compared to human workers, says a report from Shanghaiist.
We're guessing as time goes by, minds might change, but for now, restaurant employees in some parts of China can rest easy.
As it stands now in the west, especially in the United States of America, we seem to be getting closer to the end of human cooks and waitresses in the workplace. The protest and demand for increased minimum wage have several companies on edge, and according to some, will likely force the robot in the workplace revolution.
We're not sure what can be done to protect the livelihood of workers. What we do believe, however, is that robots and human workers should be able to work alongside each other instead of the machines becoming a replacement tool.
