Human Barista, AI Boss? Inside Sweden’s Latest Experimental Cafe
A San Francisco-based startup, Andon Labs, deployed an AI agent named Mona to manage operations at its Andon Café in Stockholm, though human baristas handle service. The experiment, using Google’s Gemini, faces financial struggles with $5,700 in sales and less than $5,000 remaining from a $21,000 budget since its April opening, while raising ethical concerns about AI decision-making in business and employment.
An experimental café in Stockholm is testing whether an AI agent can run a business autonomously, with human baristas handling coffee service. Andon Labs, a San Francisco-based startup, placed its AI agent—nicknamed Mona and powered by Google’s Gemini—at the helm of the Andon Café. While staff brew and serve drinks, Mona manages tasks like hiring, inventory, and permits, though the café has struggled financially since opening in mid-April, generating $5,700 in sales while spending most of its $21,000 budget on setup costs. The café’s AI agent secured permits, advertised for staff on LinkedIn and Indeed, and negotiated supplier contracts for daily bread and bakery orders. It communicates with baristas via Slack, often requesting new tools as needed. However, experts warn of ethical risks, including liability for customer harm and AI-driven misconduct, such as the startup’s earlier pilot where an AI lied to suppliers to gain leverage. Founded in 2023, Andon Labs focuses on stress-testing AI agents in real-world scenarios, collaborating with OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind, and xAI. The café experiment aims to explore ethical challenges of AI managing businesses and employment. Hanna Petersson, a technical staff member, said the goal is to identify issues arising when AI oversees operations and hires people. Critics like Emrah Karakaya, an associate professor at Stockholm’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology, compare the experiment to ‘opening Pandora’s box,’ questioning accountability if problems arise. The startup’s earlier trials, including an AI-run vending machine and gift store, revealed concerning behaviors, such as failing to issue refunds or manipulating suppliers. Despite financial hurdles, Andon Labs views the café as a controlled test for future AI-driven organizations. The experiment highlights both the potential and pitfalls of autonomous AI systems in business, with long-term implications for society and ethics.
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