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AI-Powered Robotic Restaurant Debuts At Barcelona Airport

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AI-Powered Robotic Restaurant Debuts At Barcelona Airport

Reading time: 2 min

Posted on Feb 3, 2025

Written by Kiara Fabbri Multimedia Journalist
Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Lead Cybersecurity Editor

Barcelona Airport (BCN) has launched SELF, allegedly the world’s first AI-powered robotic restaurant at an airport.

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

The restaurant covers 137m² and serves coffee, sandwiches, salads, and desserts.
An advanced robotic arm handles up to six orders simultaneously.
Customers place and pay orders via touchscreen, receiving QR code notifications.

Developed in partnership with Areas, a Spanish multinational specializing in food and beverage, the 137m² restaurant offers a variety of meals, including coffee, sandwiches, pastries, salads, pokes, and desserts, all served through automated systems designed to increase efficiency and improve customer experience, as first reported by International Airport Review (IAR).

The restaurant features a robotic arm capable of handling up to six orders simultaneously. Customers place and pay for their orders via a touchscreen, receiving a QR code for their meal.

AI technology, including machine vision, allows the system to optimize service in real time, ensuring faster and more accurate food preparation, says IAR.

SELF is the result of collaboration between Areas, Aena, and various strategic technology partners, such as MasterCard, Kuka, ICG, and brands like Coca-Cola and Lavazza. The system operates autonomously but works alongside human staff to manage inventory, optimize procurement, and enhance customer service, as reported by IAR.

However, as automated systems like SELF become more widespread, there are growing concerns about the implications for job losses. Many roles traditionally occupied by airport food service employees could be displaced by robotics and AI, especially in tasks like food preparation and order fulfillment.

As the industry embraces these technologies, it will be essential to address the potential impact on workers and explore retraining opportunities or alternative job placements to mitigate displacement. Balancing innovation with job security will be a key challenge in the evolving landscape of airport services.

Kiara Fabbri

Written by: Kiara Fabbri

Hi, I’m Kiara Fabbri a Tech News Writer at WizCase. I'm a multimedia journalist with a keen interest in innovative and immersive news storytelling. Fluent in three languages—Italian, English, and Spanish—I'm deeply engaged in all facets of news reporting. I am currently undertaking a Ph.D. exploring VR applications in journalism. Following my studies in psychology (BSc) and political psychology (MSc), I embarked on a three-year journey across South America. During this time, I undertook a 4000 km solo bicycle trip from Chile to Brazil. There, I camped, cooked on the road, and volunteered in various facilities. It was during these travels that I discovered my passion for journalism. Subsequently, I pursued a Master's program in journalism innovation and enterprise. My career in journalism has seen me produce VR immersive experiences covering a range of topics. These include documenting an Anti Militaristic raid of a NATO Base, life in the Brazilian Favelas, the recent violent protest clashes in Buenos Aires and finally social projects run by Skaters in the Argentinian ghettos. In addition to my journalistic endeavours, I also practice parkour, a discipline I have cultivated over several years now. I love to make the most of this skill in my journalistic style; for example, it has enabled me to capture dynamic footage from heights during the recent violent clashes in Buenos Aires. There, I scaled heights and employed a long stick on my camera to create aerial 360° views. Through my dedication to pushing the boundaries of journalism, I am committed to amplifying voices, sparking meaningful conversations, and driving positive change in the world.

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