Chipotle is testing out automated cooking robots to make bowls and salads pic.twitter.com/NwFjxcWOJc
— Vision4theBlind (@Vision4theBlind) September 16, 2024
One robot, called the “Autocado,” can peel, remove the pit, and slice an avocado for guacamole in just 26 seconds. Another robot, called the “digital makeline,” assembles salads and bowls by following app orders.
These robots are part of Chipotle’s push to use more automation, which the company hopes will reduce the number of workers needed, cutting down on labor costs. Unsurprisingly, they’ve started testing the robots in two of their California restaurants, where the minimum wage for fast food workers recently increased to $20 per hour.
The wage hike, which is $4 higher than the minimum wage for other jobs in the state, was introduced by California Governor Gavin Newsom and applies to chains with more than 60 U.S. locations. It became law on April 1. Other fast food chains like Burger King have also started using more digital ordering kiosks to replace cashiers.
Right now, it’s not clear how much Chipotle saves by using these machines compared to paying human workers. It’s also unknown how many items the robots can make in an hour compared to staff. However, Chipotle has said the robots are not only meant to improve efficiency but also to make sure portions are consistent, which has been a common complaint among customers.
Chipotle uses ‘autocado’ robot to make guacamole in Calif. where fast-food pay is $20 an hour https://t.co/KsgEXtBX6h pic.twitter.com/uWfMVe6wRg
— New York Post (@nypost) September 16, 2024
In July, Chipotle admitted that customer complaints about different portion sizes between stores were valid. Since most of their orders are for salads and bowls, they think the digital makeline could save a lot of staff time.
There have been concerns about the safety of the digital makeline. Last year, a promotional video showed chopped ingredients flying out of bowls and into the machine, raising questions about hazards. But Chipotle’s CEO, Brian Niccol, assured everyone that their food safety and operations teams have worked with the tech teams to make sure the machines are safe, easy to clean, and accurate.
Whether Chipotle will roll out these robots in more restaurants depends on feedback from staff and customers. The company has already invested $100 million in its “Cultivate Next” fund to help develop new technology for its restaurants.
Chipotle’s sales this year exceeded Wall Street’s expectations, thanks to price increases and more loyal customers. However, the company has faced criticism for inconsistent portion sizes, which led them to announce plans to retrain staff to ensure generous servings across all locations.
Last month, a Wells Fargo analyst team tested whether Chipotle was really cutting back on portions. They ordered 75 burrito bowls from eight New York City locations and found that the weight of the bowls varied by as much as 33%, depending on the restaurant.
Interesting Facts about Automation and Robots:
- Automation is rapidly increasing in fast food: Many chains like McDonald’s and White Castle are also introducing robots to handle tasks like flipping burgers or making fries.
- Robots can improve efficiency: In industries like manufacturing, robots can work 24/7, greatly improving production times and reducing human error.
- Automation isn’t just in factories: Service industries, like retail and fast food, are adopting more robots and AI to handle tasks from checkout to food prep.
- Self-driving delivery robots are on the rise: Companies like Starship Technologies are using small robots to deliver food and goods autonomously in certain cities.
- Some experts predict 20 million jobs could be replaced by robots by 2030: As automation technology continues to advance, many jobs in sectors like manufacturing, retail, and fast food are likely to be impacted.
Christina Moore
