Picture related enough: the near future. Mediocre soup and sandwich giant Panera Bread has announced it's going to replace its human cashiers by 2016. The company will install automated ordering and payment kiosks so you don't have to talk to a human while ordering your food. Or while picking it up -- just snatch the tray with one hand and continue playing with your phone with the other. Bonus @$$hole points for shooting the employee a stink-eye like you're better than them.
The news follows moves from Chili's and Applebee's to place tablets on their tables, allowing diners to order and pay without interacting with human wait staff at all. Panera, which spent $42 million developing its new system, claims it isn't planning any job cuts as a result of the technology, but some analysts see this kind of shift as unavoidable for the industry.
No job cuts? Then what are the people who used to be cashiers going to be doing? Are you going to invent new jobs for them? At least don't LIE about it. Yes, we're replacing workers with robots, and yes, we're firing people. This is the future, and we can't afford to bring you a $6.99 soup and sandwich combo without breaking a few eggs. "But the soup and salad shouldn't contain eggs." It's a saying! You know, like, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the sauna. "I'm not sure that's how it goes." Plus try not to stare at any of the other guy's johnsons. Thanks to Thaylor H and E V I L A R E S, who refuse to be served by a robot, no matter how much more practical or hygienic. I mean, I hate robots, but I still haven't seen one that works at Taco Bell posting pics on Instagram with its penis in a gordita.