Restaurant workers not convinced robot servers will replace jobs

In the day of self-checkouts and AI chatbots, technology is creeping into ever industry to either help workers and complete menial tasks to boost efficiency. 

One of latest robotic advancements to hit Cambridge is the introduction of a new robot server at the Cambridge Centre's East Side Mario's restaurant. 

"It really help us with things like bringing out large orders of food and can be really entertaining to younger crowds," said East Side Mario's employee Laurie Sweeney. 

Video and photos of the new robotic helper were shared on social media earlier this week, and has people applauding the innovation with some linking the robots to conspiracy theories about digital currency and government control.

"We went as a big group to East Side and the robot delivered our food. It was great. We all got our food at the same time," posted one happy customer. 

"This is leading up to nothing but job loss," wrote another angry viewer. "This is a segue to digital currency and surveillance. Walmart takes a photo of your face at self checkouts! None of this is good."

The person who posted the original video, Colleen Reardon isn't convinced that this machine will replace jobs, but instead will make it easier for those who are working. 

"We still had a lovely waitress who took our order and took the food off the robot trays and put it on our table," said Reardon. "It saved the waitress from having to take two trips and/or juggle all the plates. The robot never went anywhere unless accompanied by a staff member."

At the restaurant, Reardon and her family loved it, especially her grandchildren. 

"Might be gimmicky but it was fun," she added. 

Sweeney confirms that the robot won't be replacing anyone anytime soon as the current staff still takes the orders and places the food on the robot itself. 

"We use it mostly as a tool, not as something to replace or take over from any of the staff," noted Sweeney. 

It seems like an attraction to bring in customers and allow them to have a memorable experience.

Sweeney describes the robot as being a hit for younger children as it is loaded with songs, R2D2 noises and the ability to sign Happy Birthday in multiple languages.

Another benefit the robot has is helping when the restaurant is short staffed or if a big crowd comes in unexpectedly. 

"Everyone is experiencing staffing shortages so sometimes it's nice to have the extra set of hands," said Sweeney. "There can also be times where it is dead one minute and the next there's 20 tables that need to be served." 

The robots are provided by a Chinese company called Keenon, which boasts about the machine's AI technology and advanced senors. 

The company also offers cleaning robots, guiding robots to help people find destinations and an entire lineup of different dining robots. 

"By applying advanced intelligent service robots and AI technology, the company has created efficient, stable, reliable and practical solutions, helping enterprises in various industries around the world improve service efficiency and realize intelligent upgrading," reads Keenon's website. 

Sweeney has yet to run into any problems in the short time the robot has been used at the Cambridge restaurant and thinks while it might be weird to see robots in restaurants now, soon it will be normal to get your food delivered by a machine.