Meng Wang, co-founder of food tech startup Artly Coffee, reassured that his robot baristas aim to address the labor shortage in the service industry rather than replace jobs. However, Bill Werner, an associate professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, expressed concerns about AI impacting casino union jobs that lack direct customer interaction. The Culinary Union recognizes the hospitality industry's dynamic nature and applauds AI advances but is concerned about technology's growing use.
Key takeaways:
- The CES 2024 in Las Vegas showcased various AI-powered robots, including a barista that can create latte art, raising concerns about the future of hospitality jobs in an AI-dominated world.
- The Culinary Workers Union, representing 40,000 members, concluded negotiations emphasizing technology as a crucial issue, with the latest union contract including provisions for severance pay if a job is eliminated due to technology or AI.
- Meng Wang, co-founder of food tech startup Artly Coffee, reassures that his robot baristas aim to address the labor shortage in the service industry rather than replace jobs.
- Bill Werner, an associate professor in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas hospitality department, expresses concerns about AI impacting casino union jobs that lack direct customer interaction, such as housekeeping and food preparation.