Robots will replace fast-food workers

[JEDI]

http://money.cnn.com/2014/05/22/technology/innovation/fast-food-robot/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

- Faced with a $15 wage mandate, restaurants have to reduce the cost of service

- Chili's and Applebee's to place tablets on their tables, allowing diners to order and pay without interacting with human wait staff at all.


if chilli's/applebee's does that, then do you need to tip?

 

[olds]

It can't come soon enough.
I wonder if they chain them to the table though.

 

[gorcorps]

I've already been to a Chilis where they were trialing the tablet ordering. People were still there for actually bringing food so I felt like I should tip.

 

[JamesV]

Maybe in 100 years when tech has been ingrained in everyone from birth, but I can imagine these restaurants needing new employees to help people that can't use tablets (older, macular), and to help those not tech literate. New employees that can ask for a higher wage if they have to deal with technical problems.

I wonder how this would actually be cheaper. Waiters only make 1/2 minimum wage, so tablets + software + service agreements + eventual broken/dropped replacements is going to be cheaper than paying waiters?

On the flip side, will any waiter want to work at these restaurants if they are possibly denied tips? Are they going to have busboys in dirty aprons deliver food? A good waiter can make a huge difference on the customer; sounds like a bad idea to me.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Will the robots spit in the food like the humans do? It would be a shame to miss out on the personal touch.

 

[Mai72]

In Korea teachers are going to be replaced by robots!

 

[Jaskalas]

They see money, I see a legion of unemployed.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

They see money, I see a legion of unemployed.

We could pay them to not work. (It's probably cheaper than prison.)

 

[Mai72]

The end result?

Higher taxes to take care of the unemployed. Laugh now people. You guys are going to be taxed even more.

 

[surfsatwerk]

The robots will still spit in your food.

 

[Sonikku]

In 50 years the whole world could be run by 100 people. The rest of you can go fuck yourselves and starve.

 

[Ken g6]

I've been predicting robots would replace fast-food cooks for years.

Now, service, I expect to remain human for awhile. Probably gourmet chefs too, though they may get more intelligent "food processors". Even for fast food, the attendants are already there to provide a friendly interface between the cusomter and a computer:

I'm just imagining that some (not all) fast-food drive-thrus will have no local employees. The attendant taking your order will be at a call center in India. Then you drive around, pay a machine, and food slides out next to your car window.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

Automation is coming and so will the inevitable end of the capitalist system as we know it.

 

[Markbnj]

There's no question in my mind that this is in the future. I don't know how far in the future, but once robotics reaches a certain state employing humans to do low-skill jobs will no longer make any economic sense.

 

[Leyawiin]

Was just reading last night about online retailing being the death knell for a lot of retail jobs. I can vouch for that will a number of half empty strip malls and big box retailers that have pulled out in my area. Now restaurants/fast food places are dipping their toes in the automated systems to cut down on labor. Its just a bit concerning as for years everyone was griping about how we were turning in to a nation of cash registers jockeys and burger flippers. Now those jobs may be going. How exactly are people on the lower end of the educational scale supposed to support themselves?

 

[Pulsar]

They see money, I see a legion of unemployed.

Those who fear technology and prefer to see themselves as a constant victim often say this sort of thing. Democrat perhaps?

 

[BUTCH1]

In Korea teachers are going to be replaced by robots!

She's hot! since teachers are so corrupt nowadays I wonder if she'll offer up her USB port to a horny teen..

 

[ioni]

If a fast food restaurant is run by robots, couldn't I just walk behind the counter, grab some food, and walk out without paying?

 

[SagaLore]

Robots won't work out. This will come next:

 

[olds]

If a fast food restaurant is run by robots, couldn't I just walk behind the counter, grab some food, and walk out without paying?

No. The robots will have lasers on their heads.

 

[Insomniator]

I'd rather deal with robots/tablets then the average person that works at these places. A robot wouldn't put mayo on my burger after I specifically told it not to.

As for what happens when all low-skill jobs are automated? I have no idea, but I doubt it will be 'the end of capitalism as we know it'.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Good? Maybe then all those who would have gone into fast food will do something worthwhile instead.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

The end result?

Higher taxes to take care of the unemployed. Laugh now people. You guys are going to be taxed even more.

So what happens as more and more people aren't needed? More people looking for fewer jobs driving wages lower, unemployment spiraling ever upwards. You are safe of course, right? Maybe. But now you are going to have a perpetual welfare population that can do nothing but grow. You are going to be taxed and taxed and taxed. Well such is life. Unfortunately you probably work for people who sell stuff, and unless it's for the very wealthy demand drops. Well, why have all these people hanging on drawing high pay when demand doesn't warrant? Well, adios. You can always find a job flipping burgers. Oh, no you can't. You've joined the welfare population.

No, I wouldn't be all that happy about this.

 

[z1ggy]

I'd rather deal with robots/tablets then the average person that works at these places. A robot wouldn't put mayo on my burger after I specifically told it not to.

As for what happens when all low-skill jobs are automated? I have no idea, but I doubt it will be 'the end of capitalism as we know it'.

It means people who aren't intelligent enough for higher education degrees become criminals, or join the military.

 

[rudder]

I will sell robots that can cook any food you want. Then you won't even need to go out to eat. There will be no more corporations... only me.