In the last few years, we have seen automation take hold in all aspects of our lives, from driver-assisted autopilot in our cars to AI research assistance. But now automation has come to the burger business. The world’s first purchase-to-plate burger restaurant has opened in Southern California. The Cali Express by Flippy™ will open its doors sometime in 2024.
Flippy is an AI-powered fry robot developed by Miso Robotics. It will freshly grind a Wagyu blend of beef into a patty and fry it up AFTER you order, making this one of the freshest and fastest burgers you can eat! It will also turn out a basket of perfectly cooked french fries made from premium potatoes. With all this high-end food, you would think the burger prices would be outrageous, but they are competitively priced with human-run chains like In-n-Out.
The automation does not stop there. The menu experience is entirely automated by PopID. This service integrates with the Flippy bot in the kitchen to ensure your order is fresh. PopID will allow you to use your face as the payment method when ordering a cheeseburger and fries. There is no need to fumble with cash or enter your PIN. This streamlines the experience to make it fast and fresh.
These two entities were brought under the same roof by the Cali group, a holding company that strives to use technology to revolutionize the restaurant space. Don’t just get your order to-go. The dining area is full of homages to the robotics industry. Enjoy a show from the dancing robotics arms of Flippy prototypes or some of the experimental 3D printed artifacts from old developments or some other exhibits in this museum-style dining area. The future of fast food could be starting here!