Chipotle deploys automated service bot Chippy to chain locations

Yahoo Finance anchors discuss Chipotle's expansion of its pilot program for an AI robot named "Chippy" that helps make tortilla chips.

Video transcript

RACHELLE AKUFFO: Chipotle's tortilla making robot Chippy is graduating to a real restaurant in October. Chippy will be making tortilla chips in a Fountain Valley, California store. Now feedback from staff and customers will determine a possible national rollout. And Chippy won't be the only bot in the kitchen. Chipotle is testing AI at eight California locations that tell staff when to cook based on forecasts of how much of each item the restaurant may need that day.

Now, Chipotle's plan for all of these tech innovations is to help staff and customers amid labor shortages. Now, this is an interesting one because a lot of times, you think, is automation going to take some of these jobs away from people? But then on the other hand, if it frees them up to perhaps really enjoy customer service, like talking to customers, really making their dining experience better, I'm not mad at it.

DAVE BRIGGS: Yeah, I think the automation angle has really changed with the way the labor market is right now. You're seeing a shortage across the country in all sorts of restaurants. So it's not really taking away jobs when most of these restaurants at all levels cannot hire enough employees. But their chips are good.