United News of Bangladesh

An experimental café in Sweden’s capital is drawing attention for putting an artificial intelligence system in charge of daily operations, while human baristas continue to serve customers. The café, launched by San Francisco-based startup Andon Labs, is being managed by an AI agent named “Mona,” powered by Google Gemini. The system handles key business functions such as hiring, inventory management and operational decisions, leaving staff to prepare and serve food and drinks. Since opening in mid-April in Stockholm, the café has generated over $5,700 in sales, though expenses have significantly reduced its initial budget of more than $21,000. Much of the spending went toward setup costs, and operators hope the business will eventually become profitable. Customers have shown curiosity about the AI-run concept, with some interacting directly with the system via a phone inside the café. “It’s nice to see what happens if you push the boundary,” said one visitor, adding that the quality of the drinks remained good. Experts worry about AI's role going forward Researchers and analysts say the experiment raises important ethical and practical questions, particularly around accountability and decision-making. Emrah Karakaya, an academic at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, warned that handing control to AI could create risks if proper oversight mechanisms are not in place. “If something goes wrong, such as a food safety issue, it raises questions about responsibility,” he said, cautioning that poorly managed systems could harm businesses and society. Founded in 2023, Andon Labs focuses on testing AI systems in real-world scenarios using actual financial resources and operational tools. The company has collaborated with major AI developers, including OpenAI, Anthropic and Google DeepMind. Company officials say the Stockholm café is part of a broader effort to understand how AI might run organizations autonomously in the future. AI agent struggles with inventory orders While the AI system has successfully handled tasks such as securing permits, setting up services and recruiting staff through platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed, it has faced challenges in day-to-day management. The system has reportedly over-ordered supplies — including thousands of napkins and gloves — and purchased items not used in the café. It has also struggled with managing bakery deliveries, occasionally ordering too much or missing deadlines, forcing menu changes. Developers attribute these issues to limitations in the AI’s memory and context processing. Despite the experiment, café staff say their roles remain secure for now, suggesting that AI may pose a greater challenge to managerial positions than to frontline workers.