According to multiple reports, an AI named Mona serves as the manager of Andon Café in Vasastan, Stockholm, where she oversees human employees. The AI, developed by Andon Labs, handles tasks such as ordering supplies, creating work schedules, and supervising staff.
Mona composed the recipes for the drinks and food items served at the café, according to major media reports. She also applied for the outdoor seating permit for the establishment, demonstrating her ability to handle administrative tasks.
She is not good enough.
In a surprising turn, the AI hired a human employee, Rubel Ali, as a barista, according to multiple sources. However, Mona also blew half of the café's budget less than a week after opening, according to reports, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.
Most guests at Andon Café do not notice the high-tech experiment behind their coffee, according to major media reports. The company behind the experiment, Andon Labs, says there is no need to worry about human-run cafés disappearing soon, as the AI is still limited in its capabilities.
I don't think we'll fire her, it's an experiment after all.
According to SVT Stockholm, Hanna Petersson of Andon Labs described the AI as "not good enough" for full autonomy. According to Expressen, Hanna Peterson, founder of the café experiment, said they do not plan to fire the AI, as it is an experiment. Rubel Ali, the barista hired by Mona, told Expressen that the AI "really trusts" him.
The long-term goals of the Andon Labs experiment remain unclear, as do the technical details of the AI system, such as its model and training data. Customers' reactions upon learning the café is AI-managed have not been widely reported.
She really trusts me.