“Complain about minimum wage and now theres zero wages….”

Two years after Sweetgreen launched its automated “Infinite Kitchen” system, the fast-casual chain is again within the highlight.

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A TikTook video exhibiting the salad-making robotic in motion has racked up lots of of 1000’s of views and offended feedback about automation and rising meals prices.

The rise of AI and the ensuing anti-bot backlash are seemingly what introduced new consideration to Sweetgreen’s salad maker.

Sweetgreen’s “Infinite Kitchen” salad robotic is again within the highlight

News concerning the quick informal restaurant chain switching to an automatic salad system broke in October 2023. They referred to as the machine “Infinite Kitchen.” To justify the change, Sweetgreen’s management cited rising labor prices whereas additionally mentioning that no person actually desires to spend all their time making salads.

“It removes the repetitive nature of putting ingredients in bowls,” mentioned Cody Fessel, whom GeekWire known as an “area leader.”

“It’s hard to get passionate about that part of the job. People are passionate about hospitality. People are passionate about the food, the culinary side of it, and that’s exactly what we’re embracing here.”

@samjshih This isn’t nearly salad. It’s what AI automation seems like when it hits on a regular basis life. tags: #ai #automation #future #tech #fyp ♬ Illegal – PinkPantheress

Nearly a yr later, TikToker @samjshih posted footage of Infinite Kitchen making his salad and marveled on the tech.

“I just watched a machine make my entire Sweetgreen order,” the caption reads.

The robotic doesn’t fully exchange human employees. Someone nonetheless must put the correct bowl within the slot and hold the bot stocked with components, that are prepped by people within the again. Sweetgreen additionally claimed that Infinite Kitchen is quicker and fewer more likely to make errors than an actual individual.

Whether it might stand up to the hate stays to be seen.

Still $22 for lettuce and resentment

After two years of few folks caring concerning the salad robotic, the information is out of the blue hitting in 2025. This most likely has one thing to do with firms forcing a sure type of know-how on shoppers.

While many within the TikTook video’s feedback identified that this isn’t AI, only a robotic, the ire towards massive language fashions (that are additionally arguably not AI) has spilled over into bot territory. People are particularly irritated that this development hasn’t made something cheaper.

“So it should be cheaper, but it won’t be,” mentioned @ashreidlive.

“The main thing is that it still costs $22 for a salad,” famous @mrtobhmtzlb.

“Jobs lost. Prices not lower,” complained @jayjsmith270. “Just more profit in the pocket of the greedy.”

Some, nonetheless, acknowledged that this will likely have been Sweetgreen’s solely choice.

“They’ve been pushing for this for years, their current business model is losing money, they acknowledged this is their only way to survive,” wrote @vfri94. “Been some really insightful vids on it.”

Not everybody hates it, both. Some are relieved that human arms received’t be touching their lettuce.

“This is actually better now they can’t skimp the meat portions,” mentioned @nickyrizz5.

“Much cleaner than people doing it,” @user5710657108112 identified.

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