An experimental café has been launched in Stockholm, run by... Artificial Intelligence

On the surface, it looks like a very ordinary café, with staff preparing avocado toast and lattes for customers. But the café in one of Stockholm's residential areas is unusual because it is run by... Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The café has a minimalist design, with a few tables with small plants on them against grey walls. Behind the bar is barista Kajetan Grzelczak, who was recruited by „Mona“ – the café's IoT manager, who works on the basis of „Gemini“, an IoT tool developed by „Google“.

K. Grzelczak told AFP that „order taking is not her („Mona“) forte“.

„So I created for her... a wall of shame“, – he said, pointing to the wall behind him. This display shows some of the unnecessary purchases made by „Mona“, including 10 litres of cooking oil or 15 kilos of tinned tomatoes. Mr Grzelczak regrets that he cannot use them for anything that „Mona“ has put on the menu.

Orders can be placed with „Mona“ or with one of the staff. In one corner of the café, a large screen displays the café's real-time income and balance, and customers can speak to „Mona“ on the phone. The screen also shows a description of this unusual café, which is an experiment by San Francisco start-up „Andon Labs“.

Electrical Questions

„We think IoT is going to be a big part of society and the labour market in the future,“ Hanna Peterson, a member of the technical team at the ten-employee company, told AFP.–We want to try it out before it becomes a reality and see what ethical issues arise when IoT, for example, employs people.

When premises were found for the café, the lease was handed over to the DI, along with the initial capital, with a simple task: to run the café profitably. „Mona“ quickly got to work, applying for the necessary permits, designing the menu, finding suppliers and managing the daily restocking. DI also realised that it needed people to prepare the coffee and eventually employed two people.

„She posted job ads on the „Indeed“ and „LinkedIn“ platforms, held phone interviews and made hiring decisions“, – said Ms Petersson.

After seeing the ad, K. Grzelczak initially thought it was a joke, especially as it was posted on 1 April. But after a 30-minute interview with DI, he got the job.

He noted that the salary he receives is good, but his right to disconnect from work is completely disregarded: „Mona“ sends him messages at all hours of the night, does not remember his requests for leave and regularly asks him to pay for purchases out of his own pocket.

H. Petersson pointed out that exploring such issues is part of the experiment.

„What salary has she decided to give? What other benefits has she decided to give? I think she did a good job. She pays a good salary. If she didn't pay, we would have intervened," she said.

The café has only been open for a week, but already attracts 50 to 80 curious customers a day.

Urja Risal, a 27-year-old DI researcher, stopped by for a drink with a friend. „We often hear that the IoT is about to take our jobs away. But what would that look like?“ – she told AFP. – I hope more people will engage with „Mona“ and think about the real dangers of having a DI manual. For example, if someone got hurt, how would „Mona“ react?