CaliBurger rolls out the world’s first burger flipping robot
Robot manufacturers are increasingly targeting the services sector, and that includes flipping burgers.
Key takeaways
- Flippy, a burger flipping robot has just completed its first day on the job at CaliBurger, a burger chain in California, and in doing so it broke the hearts of tens of thousands of wannabe burger flippers around the world.
- Could this be the beginning of the end for humans at the grill? Probably not but it’s another sign that times, and perhaps more importantly attitudes towards robots, could be changing.
- Although in time that too is going to be easy enough to automate.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2017) 'CaliBurger rolls out the world’s first burger flipping robot', 311 Institute, 5 April. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/caliburger-rolls-out-the-worlds-first-burger-flipping-robot/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Flippy, a burger flipping robot has just completed its first day on the job at CaliBurger, a burger chain in California, and in doing so it broke the hearts of tens of thousands of wannabe burger flippers around the world.
Could this be the beginning of the end for humans at the grill? Probably not but it’s another sign that times, and perhaps more importantly attitudes towards robots, could be changing.
The robotic kitchen assistant, whose creators Miso Robotics, are keen to capitalise on the public’s, and businesses, new found interest in robotics can be installed in just five minutes and apparently it cooks perfect burgers every time, non-stop, 24/7. Unlike a fry cook
“Much like self-driving vehicles, Flippy continuously learns from its experiences to improve over time,” said David Zito, chief executive officer of Miso Robotics, “and although we're starting with the relatively 'simple' task of cooking burgers, our proprietary artificial intelligence software allows our kitchen assistants to be adaptable and therefore can be trained to help with almost any dull, dirty or dangerous task in a commercial kitchen, whether it's frying chicken, cutting vegetables or final plating.”
So Miso Robotics quest for world domination it seems does not stop at burgers…
Cameras and sensors help Flippy to determine when the burger is fully cooked before the robot places them on a bun, after which a human co-worker, if that's the right word, takes over and adds condiments. Although in time that too is going to be easy enough to automate.
CaliBurger has now announced that it plans to roll Flippy out to at least fifty more restaurants within the next year with the aim of installing them worldwide by the end of 2019, saying that the benefits include making “food faster, safer and with fewer errors,” and let's not forget the $21,000 they save for every employee they don't have to pay.
It’s a sad day for Spongebob, and fry cooks everywhere, and who knows one day Flippy could find itself cooking lab grown burgers...
What this means for your organisation
Service jobs are next for robots.
Robots are moving from factories into kitchens and other service settings. Dull, dirty or dangerous tasks go first. Restaurant leaders should list which kitchen tasks fit that description.
Learning robots widen their role.
A robot that improves with experience can be retrained for new tasks over time. One machine could cover several stations. Operators should judge robots on adaptability, not just one job.
Consistency is the selling point.
A machine that cooks the same way every time reduces waste and quality complaints. That matters at chain scale. Measure robots on consistency and uptime as well as speed.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Which kitchen tasks are dull, dirty or dangerous enough to automate?
- Could one robot cover several roles in our kitchens?
- How would consistent cooking change our waste and complaints?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Robot manufacturers are increasingly targeting the services sector, and that includes flipping burgers.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
What future do you need to see?
Choose one to get started on robotics and the future of your organisation.
Sources and further reading
- CaliBurger caliburger.com
- Miso Robotics misorobotics.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 5 April 2017. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2017). CaliBurger rolls out the world’s first burger flipping robot. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/caliburger-rolls-out-the-worlds-first-burger-flipping-robot/
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