Robots are the excuse, not the reason. The fact is, a robot is cheaper than a $15/hour burger-flipping employee, but it's also cheaper than a $7.50/hour employee, so the automation is practically inevitable. All the robot 'cost savings' are coming regardless, and fewer people will be employed (or they'll change employment to something else).<p>The only reason to keep wages low is to save money on the salary costs of jobs where a robot <i>can't</i> replace a human. Arguing that wages shouldn't go up for those people who robots won't replace only serves to protect profits and income for the people at the top.
I look forward to an entirely robotic fast-food joint. Drive up, wave your rfid card, get a list of your last 5 menu choices, poke at one, food comes out the slot in a bag. No human involved.
Restaurant means different things to different people. To me, I do not care if a fast food establishment (McDonald's, Qdoba, Panera, etc...) replaces workers with robots. The food and experience already feels autonomous and disconnected.<p>I do not see robots replacing servers at non-fast food places for a long time if ever.<p>They bring up grocery stores but I think most employees, especially check out clerks, will be replaced by machines. As much as I love to talk to the older person about their grandkids while they, slowly, scan my items I would be OK with dumping my items onto a tray and having the machine do all the work. Almost like self checkout except for a robot replacing me.
Robots are comming to restaurants regardless. There is already touch kiosks where you can order in some restaurants, there is one at a Panera Bread near me, and many in some airports.