Coffee Meets AI: Seattle Startup's Robot Baristas Serve Up The Perfect Cup Every Time
Artly, a 3-year-old startup that claims to make a "perfect cup of coffee every time" with its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered machines, has been named a finalist for the 2023 GeekWire Gadget of the Year.
With five retail locations on the West Coast and $8.3 million in funding, Artly is expanding its model, sourcing and roasting its own coffee beans, positioning itself as a specialty coffee maker and competing with companies like Blue Bottle Coffee Inc. and Stumptown Coffee Roasters.
"We created more STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] jobs and elevated barista jobs so our baristas could focus on creating better recipes, teaching the robot and providing customer service," he told GeekWire.
Worker shortages and increasing interest in contactless service are providing tailwinds for robotics companies aiming to improve efficiency and reduce labor costs in the food and hospitality industries. Picnic Works, another Seattle startup, is bringing automation to the food industry with its robotic pizza maker, and the company just signed a deal with Dominos Pizza Inc.
Artly is Seattle's first AI coffee bar, where cups are prepared by barista bots named Jarvis and Amanda. Wang's background in AI and robotics at Amazon led him to the idea after talking with friends who own small coffee shops. They stressed the need to make precise cups every time, and he knew robots could learn and execute. But he said the idea isn't to replace masterful human baristas; it's to share their skills in more places.
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"There is always at least one human on-site to help answer ordering questions and serve treats from a pastry case," the report stated. The Seattle spot is one of seven locations and the only one in Washington, but Wang hopes to open 10 more locations throughout the West Coast in 2023.
Customers can communicate their needs via technology, ordering drinks online or at kiosks, and the barista bots can answer some spoken questions by way of microphones and AI learning. The robots also make recommendations for certain drinks, like iced lattes.
"Artly is a very human-centric company; it's all about preserving the craft," Wang said. "Robots cannot create the craft, it's humans who create the craft. So in that sense, it will never replace humans."
The barista bots have become a favorite among customers, with one saying, "Delicious, it's absolutely amazing. Yeah, Jarvis is it."
Artly Coffee is a caffeinated glimpse into the future of specialty coffee, and the startup's expansion plans seem to indicate the company's confidence in its AI-powered technology.
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