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☆ Hungry at 3 am? You’re out of luck now
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Not even all of 24 Hour Fitness’ gyms — the promise is right in its name — are 24 hours. The city that never sleeps, New York, has lost 13% of its 24-hour restaurants. Around half of IHOP’s 1,800 locations are back to being open 24 hours on Friday and Saturday, at the very least. Ed Endicott/Alamy Stock Photo/FilePete’s was open 24 hours, seven days a week from the 1990s until the pandemic hit in 2020. Despite the signage, Mi Tierra is no longer open 24 hours in San Antonio, Texas.

Persons: hasn’t, Waffle, ”, Alex Barakos, Ed Endicott, Pete’s, Barakos, “, Hudson Riehle, Edward Hopper’s, Harold, Kumar Go, Stephen Zagor, Pete Cortez, Michael Silver Geo, “ There’s, ” Cortez, ’ ” Cortez Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walmart, Hollywood, Alamy, Bureau of Labor Statistics, “, National Restaurant Association, Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, Columbia Business School, of Locations: New York, Covid, Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, White, ”, New York City, San Antonio, Mi, San Antonio , Texas, Tierra, tuxedos

☆ What to know about this AI stock with ties to Nvidia up nearly 170% in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Investors may want to keep an eye on this artificial intelligence voice-and-speech recognition stock with ties to Nvidia . Shares of SoundHound AI have surged almost 170% this year and nearly 347% in February alone as investors bet on new applications for the booming technology trend that has taken Wall Street by storm. SOUN YTD mountain SoundHound shares in 2024 While the Nvidia investment isn't new news for investors and analysts, it does reinforce SoundHound's value proposition. "With voice enabled units expected to grow to 70% of shipments by 2026, this represents a significant growth opportunity, in our view," he added. He estimates an $11 billion total addressable market when accounting for the immediate opportunities from quick-service restaurants and original equipment manufacturers.

Persons: Dan Ives, Ives, SoundHound, Ladenburg Thalmann's Glenn Mattson, Krispy, Davidson's Gil Luria, Cantor Fitzgerald's Brett Knoblauch, Wainwright's Scott Buck Organizations: Nvidia, Wedbush Securities Locations: Krispy Kreme, Jersey

☆ Omnicom agency Merkley+Partners hit with lawsuit accusing ex-creative director of raping a social-media strategist in the bathroom
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | Lauren Johnson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In addition to Diaz, the lawsuit names Merkley+Partners and its parent company Omnicom Group as defendants. Merkley+Partners is a 30-year-old full-service ad firm that has created campaigns for brands including Mercedes-Benz, White Castle, and Florida's Natural. "You went down on me, I went down on you, we had sex," the lawsuit says Diaz told the plaintiff. The lawsuit also says O'Rear was "treated in a cruel and callous fashion" during the firm's investigation. O'Rear's attorney told BI she was no longer working at the ad agency but declined to comment further.

Persons: —, Armando Diaz, Diaz, Merkley, we've, Erin Johnson, Walter Thompson, Mr, O'Rear, I'm, Armando Organizations: Service, New York, Business, Partners, Omnicom Group, Mercedes, Benz, Merkley, WPP, Industry, de Mayo Locations: New York City, Manhattan, White, de

☆ My first job ever was at my local White Castle: 3 skills I learned working in fast food that I still use today
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Renée Onque | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Ironically, I worked at the same exact White Castle location that my dad did when he was around the age of 18. At 18 with zero work experience, my options were limited to retail and fast food; I landed on the latter and snagged my first gig at White Castle. How to maintain clear communication when my patience is testedIn fast food, the customer is always right, even when they're wrong. I have my job at White Castle to thank for my ability to pivot at work during intense moments like that one. So, remember to be extra kind to fast food and retail workers.

Persons: I'm, chastising, Tiffanie Boyd, McDonald's, Let's, Boyd Organizations: White, Communication, CNBC Locations: White, fryer, Canada

☆ In the Ozempic Age, Has ‘Craveable’ Lost Its Selling Power?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Kim Severson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

In the decades that followed, Oreos and freezer waffles (“L’eggo my Eggo!”) were portrayed as so irresistible that people fought over them. A popular stoner movie, “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle,” chronicled two friends’ obsessions with fast-food sliders. Craveability became such a selling point that Kellogg’s went all in and named a chocolate-filled cereal Krave. High-end chefs weren’t immune. Christina Tosi, known for the hyper-sweet desserts at her Milk Bar shops, named one of them Crack Pie.

Persons: Bert Lahr, Lay’s, “ Harold, Kumar Go, ”, Craveability, Kellogg’s, Christina Tosi Organizations: Milk Locations: White

☆ The designer of the ‘Bushwick Birkin’ is rewriting the rules of fashion
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

By contrast, even the most expensive Shopping Bags often cost less than $300. Telfar Clemens at the CFDA x Vogue Fashion Fund 'Americans in Paris' event, Paris Fashion Week, France in March 2018. Maker of the ‘Bushwick Birkin’“This Telfar bag imported. The Covid-19 pandemic sent the popularity of the Shopping Bag to new heights — new bag releases announced online sold out in minutes. ‘For everyone’In 2015, Telfar had an unusual partner at New York Fashion Week: fast-food chain White Castle.

Persons: Bella Hadid, Alexandria Ocasio, “ Abbott, they’re, Birkin, ”, Telfar Clemens —, ” Clemens, Clemens, He’s, Telfar, Telfar Clemens, Hagop Kalaidjian, Clemens “, Lois Sakany, Beyoncé, Gonzalo Marroquin, Patrick McMullan, Solange Knowles, David X Prutting, Bushwick Birkin, —, Adrienne Jones, Samia Laaboudi, Edward Berthelot, Chanel, Laticha Brown, ’, Robert F, Kennedy, Babak Radboy, “, It’s, Elliott Jerome Brown Jr, ” Sakany, Sakany, Pratt’s Jones, Radboy, ” Telfar, DiCianno, Jones, ” Jones, it’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Rep, ABC, Brooklyn, tote, Gay Times, Fund, Paris, CNN, Liberian, New York’s Pace University, Breakfast Club, of Fashion Designers of America, Vogue, Guggenheim Museum, ” Pratt Institute, Security, New York, Reuters, Analysts, Bag Security, Fashion Institute of Technology, White, Kennedy Human Rights Liberty, Justice Fund, Old, Fast Locations: New York, Alexandria, Cortez, Bushwick, Brooklyn, Paris, France, New York City, Liberian, Queens, Liberia, United States, USA, . Clemens

☆ Sorting out recycling from trash is the perfect example of a job few people want to do that AI is better than humans at
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Haley Tenore | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In some cases, these bots do the job better than humans, The Wall Street Journal reported. Working in waste management can be a dirty job, and recycling facilities across the country are facing major labor shortages, The Wall Street Journal reported. AI is being implemented in recycling facilities to sort out recyclable materials. The bots are also doing a better job at sorting out recyclables than human workers in some cases. Even though AI may change the way some recycling facilities and restaurants look, blue-collar jobs are generally considered to be safe from being overtaken by AI entirely.

Persons: Suzanne Jones, Chipotle Organizations: Street Journal, Service Locations: White

☆ A virtual restaurant brand run by robots is operating inside Travis Kalanick's CloudKitchens. Here's how it works.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Better Days, a virtual brand assisted by robots, officially debuts today. Better Days by Remy Robotics wants to scale its wellness brand to 500 locations in five years. Wellness food brand Better Days is officially debuting today inside Travis Kalanick's CloudKitchens commissary kitchens. Remy Robotics founder and CEO Yegor Traiman left his job as an electric-vehicle engineer five years ago to launch Remy Robotics. Better Days, a robot-run virtual restaurant in New York City, sells chef-driven dishes like this salmon meal.

Persons: Remy, —, there's, Travis Kalanick's, Uber, Yegor Traiman, McDonald's, Jose Andres, El, Ferran Adrià, Traiman Organizations: Remy Robotics, Service, Disney Locations: New York City, White, Chipotle, Europe, Brooklyn

☆ Pop Land: Chinese toy company Pop Mart opens Beijing theme park
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —With its launch in 2010, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart set off a collectible craze with its anime-style figurines. Following in the footsteps of Disney and Studio Ghibli, Pop Mart has expanded into the theme park business, opening up its first in the Chinese capital of Beijing. The company said on Chinese social media platform Weibo that Pop Land - the 40,000-square-meter theme park that comes in four zones - opened on Tuesday, September 26 at Chaoyang Park. “I did think about whether Pop Mart will open a theme park. Pop Mart's character Pucky is featured in its recently opened theme park Pop Land in Beijing.

Persons: it’s, – Molly, Dimoo, Skullpanda, Mickey Mouse, Kitty, Harry Potter, Walt Disney, Molly, “, Pucky, Mart Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Disney, Weibo, Domestic, Chimelong, Shenzhen Overseas, Town Enterprises, Pop, Hong Kong Stock Exchange Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Chaoyang, Shanghai, China, Chinese, Guangdong, Japan, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Macao

☆ Fast food chains are improving their drive-thru speed, survey finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Wendy’s saw a reduction in 88 seconds, Chick-fil-A by 73 and Carl’s Jr. by 43. Fast food giants have been racing to improve their drive-thrus in a race to speed up service. Service time also decreased by 4 seconds, while total drive-thru time decreased by 29 seconds. But Chick-fil-A continued to dominate in fastest total time by car, which divides the average total time by the average cars in line. McDonald’s test location lagged behind in accuracy compared to other fast food restaurants, the survey found.

Persons: Carl’s Jr, Dunkin ’, Sarah Beckett, Taco Bell, Dunkin Organizations: New, New York CNN, Intouch, KFC, Taco Bell, Intouch Insight, Bell, Taco, Intelligence Locations: New York, White, Wendy’s, Burger, Brooklyn Park , Minnesota, Fort Worth , Texas

☆ See Chipotle's new robots that can crank out nearly 200 burrito bowls an hour
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Chipotle is working with Hyphen, a startup that uses robotics to make up to 180 bowls per hour. The chain is testing an automated kitchen line by Hyphen to prepare digital orders, a $3 billion business for Chipotle. But unlike other tech firms, Hyphen has buy-in from Chipotle, one of the industry's most innovative brands. Chipotle invested in Hyphen in 2022 and started piloting its robotics this year in a lab near the chain's Newport Beach, California, headquarters. Based in San Jose, California, Hyphen recently gave Insider an exclusive first look at how it uses robotics to make up to 180 bowls per hour.

Persons: Chipotle, Brian Niccol, Niccol Organizations: Service, Chipotle Locations: Wall, Silicon, Chipotle, Beach , California, San Jose , California

☆ From taking orders to cutting avocados, AI is solving the labor shortage problem for fast-food chains
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Checkers & Rally'sLast year, Checkers & Rally's became one of the first big chains to implement widespread use of AI-powered voice assistants. Out of the 803 Checkers and Rally's restaurants, voice AI was live in 390 as of August. AdvertisementAdvertisementSoundHound, best known as a music-recognition app, has spent years perfecting its conversational voice AI bots. Sister burger chains Carl's Jr. and Hardee's also announced plans to test Presto's AI voice bots this year. Hardee's and Carl's Jr. are also testing voice AI bots by OpenCity.

Persons: DoorDash, Deloitte, Keyvan Mohajer, it's, Mohajer, Schier, Rally's, Domino's, ConverseNow, SoundHound, SoundHound's Mohajer, Beef, Chippy, Rebecca Harrington, McDonald's, Carl's Jr, Del, Carl's, Hardee's, Presto, Taco, Chris Turner, Turner, Taco Bell Organizations: Service, Chipotle, Industry, National Restaurant Association, Deloitte, Wingstop Tech, Anthony's, Slim, Dialog, Taco Bell, Taco, Yum Brands Locations: White, Wall, Silicon, McDonald's, Texas, California , Texas, Florida, Chicago, Thai, Newport Beach , California, Del Taco, Mexican, Southern California, Taco Bell's

☆ Another robot will take your order now. White Castle joins 7 other fast-food restaurants using AI at the drive-thru — see the full list.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

AI-powered voice bots are gaining steam among fast-food chains. White Castle is rolling out SoundHound's bots to 100 drive-thru lanes by the end of 2024. Here are 8 fast-food chains adding drive-thru voice bots amid labor challenges. White Castle said this week it was rolling out SoundHound's AI-powered voice bots to 100 drive-thru lanes by the end of 2024. The fast-food burger chain, which has been experimenting with AI-powered drive-thru tech since 2020, joins seven other national chains using conversational bots to process drive-thru orders.

Organizations: Service, National Restaurant Association Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Chipotle tests a robot to speed up guacamole production
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Ellie Stevens | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Your Chipotle guacamole may soon be prepared by a robot. Meet “Autocado,” a Chipotle robot designed to perform the more tedious tasks of creating the chain’s guacamole, including cutting, coring and peeling avocados. But Chipotle (CMG) said this “collaborative robot” will not eliminate jobs, but, instead, employees will work with the robot to speed up guacamole production. For its design, Chipotle partnered with Vebu Labs, a robotics startup in California, to analyze the preparation process at various Chipotle restaurants and identify the most time-consuming tasks for employees. And Chipotle is already testing “Chippy,” a robotic kitchen assistant that uses artificial intelligence to make tortilla chips to dip in Autocado’s guacamole.

Persons: “ Autocado, Chipotle, Curt Garner, ”, Patrick T Organizations: CNN, Technology, Grill Inc, Fallon, Bloomberg, Getty, ., Vebu Labs Locations: El Segundo , California, U.S, California, Vebu, guacamole

☆ Chipotle is hiring a robot to do a task employees hate
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Avocado prep is one of Chipotle employees' least favorite responsibilities, Curt Garner, Chief Customer and Technology Officer at Chipotle, told CNBC. Chipotle's robot could also help alleviate lingering labor shortages that have swept across the restaurant industry. Last year Chipotle started testing the chip-making robot Chippy, which was intentionally designed to make imperfect tortilla chips. To develop the Autocado robot, Chipotle worked with Vebu Labs, a food industry robotics startup. Future investments could include farming and supply chain innovations, as well as advanced robotics, Chipotle said in a press release.

Persons: Chipotle, Curt Garner, Chipotle isn't, Taco Bell Organizations: Service, Grill, Technology, CNBC, Brands, National Restaurant Association, Miso Robotics, White Castle, Buffalo Wild Wings, Vebu Labs Locations: Wall, Silicon, Irvine , California, Vebu

☆ BNSF Railway wins new trial over $228 million jury award in biometric data case
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Mike Scarcella | Industry Insight | Corporate Attorneys Don T Want To Pay Law Firms For Chatgpt When They Could Use It Themselves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But Kennelly said damages under the biometric law were discretionary, and so "BNSF is entitled to have a jury determine the appropriate amount of damages." The trial was the first to be held under the Illinois biometric privacy law, which is among the most stringent nationwide in protecting sensitive personal information. The jury in Chicago last year concluded BNSF "recklessly or intentionally" violated the Illinois biometric privacy law 45,600 times. Lawyers for BNSF said in a post-trial brief that the Illinois biometric law contains the word "may" and that "there is the option not to award damages, or to award damages in any amount less than the statutory maximum." The case is Rogers v. BNSF Railway Company, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, No.

Persons: Berkshire Hathaway, Matthew Kennelly, Kennelly, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, Jon Loevy, Myles McGuire, David Gerbie, Elizabeth Herrington, Lewis, Bockius Read, Mike Scarcella, Leigh Jones, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Law, BNSF, Berkshire, BNSF Railway, District, Facebook, Rogers, . BNSF Railway Company, Court, Northern District of, McGuire Law, Thomson, & $ Locations: U.S, Illinois, Fort Worth , Texas, Chicago, Northern District, Northern District of Illinois, Morgan

☆ AI drive-thrus may be good for business. But not for the rest of us
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New AI technology at the drive-thru at a Carl's Jr. location. In real-world situations, reactions to AI drive-thrus are still mixed. “We expect AI to augment the competitive advantages of restaurants with digital culture.”Short-staffed restaurants may see AI as a way to fill in the gaps. “There aren’t enough at-scale examples of voice AI in action, especially in this use case,” to say that people would prefer AI to an employee, said McAllister. By the time those examples exist, AI in drive-thrus may already be the norm.

Persons: CKE, Carl’s Jr, Wendy’s, Joel Angel Juarez, it’s, ” Thomas Kurian, ”, Christina McAllister, Forrester, upsells, Krishna Gupta, Presto, “, Todd Penegor, Penegor, Yong Suk Lee, “ it’s, Brandon Bell, McAllister Organizations: New, New York CNN, Google, USA, Wall Street, Indiana White, Wall Street Journal, Presto Automation, CKE, Presto, Presto Voice, University of Notre Dame, Intouch Locations: New York, White, Wendy’s, Columbus , Ohio, The Republic

☆ Welcome to White Castle. Would You Like Human Interaction With That?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Heather Haddon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/ai-fast-food-customer-service-a9151e27

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Chipotle's founder wants to open tiny restaurants staffed by robots and three humans
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Robots and automation are becoming a bigger part of restaurants from Wendy's to Chili's. According to documents obtained by the Post, the startup, called Kernel, uses a model featuring three human workers directing robots along an assembly line. Spokesperson Sarah Rosenberg confirmed to the Post that Ells is at the startup's helm and elements of its plan. Ells grew Chipotle and helped popularize fast casual dining before stepping down as CEO in 2017 after various foodborne illness outbreaks at its restaurants. Ells is far from the first to propose using robots and other technologies in restaurants to automate various procedures and rely on fewer workers.

☆ GC Agenda: May 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Practical Law The Journal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +23 min

Clawback Listing StandardsPublic companies should be aware that proposed NYSE and Nasdaq clawback listing standards may be in place earlier than expected. Organizations may use biometric data in a variety of ways, including when:tracking employee time; restricting access to physical and digital assets; monitoring consumer shopping behavior; and integrating biometric data into consumer products and services. Consider whether the organization’s current policies and procedures meet applicable biometric data handling requirements, including notice, consent, retention, storage, and security obligations. Review applicable laws and obligations when contracting with service providers that handle biometric data and continuously monitor their performance. In February 2023, the NYSE and Nasdaq filed proposed new listing standards, which contemplated that they could become effective as early as April 27, 2023.

☆ Why Pizza Hut’s red roofs and McDonald’s play places have disappeared
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

As fast-food chains spread across the US after World War II, new roadside restaurant brands needed to stand out. So restaurant chains turned to architecture as a key tool to promote their brand and help create their corporate identity. Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesBut the fast-food architecture of today has lost its quirky charm and distinctive features. Googie style fell out of fashion in the 1970s as fast-food style favored dark colors, brick and mansard roofs. But in the effort to modernize, some say fast-food design has became homogenized and lost its creative purpose.

The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) imposes penalties of $1,000 per violation and $5,000 for reckless or intentional violations. The Chamber in a brief filed last year said a ruling against White Castle would spur litigation that could be financially ruinous for some companies. A Chicago-based U.S. appeals court had asked the Illinois Supreme Court to decide the issue. Ohio-based White Castle in a statement provided by a spokesperson said it was disappointed with the ruling and was considering its options. The case is Cothron v. White Castle System Inc, Illinois Supreme Court, No.

☆ Worker shortage gives U.S. reason to robotize
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The U.S. labor shortage isn’t going anywhere, at least according to U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Worker productivity, measured as output per hour, fell last year and still sits below the late-2021 peak. If the shortage is, in fact, structural, robots offer businesses an alternative to increasingly expensive labor. A burrito-rolling bot might not replace workers quite yet, but planning for it could be prudent amid the hiring rat race. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMeet the robots replacing fast-food workersU.S. fast food eateries are struggling to find workers. To fill that void restaurants are turning to robots. With its mechanical arm and using computer vision technology Miso Robotics' Flippy 2 can cook everything from french fries and onion rings to cheese sticks. White Castle said it plans to add 100 Flippy's to its kitchens' nationwide. Automation could save U.S. fast food restaurants over $12 billion in annual wages, according to restaurant consultancy Aaron Allen & Associates.

☆ How robots are helping address the fast-food labor shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Struggling to find workers and eager to relieve staff from boring, repetitive tasks, fast-food restaurant chains are adding robots to their kitchens. Using artificial intelligence, computer vision technology and a mechanical arm, Miso Robotics' Flippy 2 has been deployed to Chipotle, White Castle and Wing Zone. White Castle said it plans to add 100 Flippy robots to work the fry station at its restaurants nationwide. Automation could save U.S. fast-food restaurants more than $12 billion in annual wages, the group said. CNBC got a behind-the-scenes look at restaurant robot maker Miso Robotics to find out.

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