Intelligent SoCal Eatery To Debut This Month

California dreaming is alive and well at the soon-to-open CaliExpress by Flippy in Pasadena, Calif. At the restaurant—dubbed “the world’s first fully autonomous restaurant,” according to a press release—robotics and artificial intelligence meld to offer benefits.

Customer ordering is AI-driven, with personalized order recommendations and a facial recognition payment option.

For workers, labor is lessened and safety improved thanks to burn and slippage protections at the AI-powered, robotic fry station. Food waste and oil use also are reduced by the equipment.

And, for customers, personalized order recommendations, facial recognition payments and fresh, precisely cooked food are all made possible by the location’s intelligent equipment. For example, the robotic grill will grind the wagyu beef blend in real-time after an order is placed. Customers also can watch the entire cooking process.

The restaurant will offer a straightforward menu with burgers, cheeseburgers and french fries.

The space also will feature a “pseudo-museum experience” with dancing robot arms, 3D-printed artifacts and more.

CaliExpress by Flippy will open this month by reservation only, with a grand opening to follow.