Denny's robot server sparks employment concerns

A video shot by a customer of a Denny's restaurant robot named 'Janet' serving breakfast went viral.

The video, shared by TikTok user @miabellaceo, gained over 470,000 views. It showed Sunny carrying plates of food on in-built shelves. While a waitress took orders and served coffee, Sunny was responsible for delivering the food.

The reactions to the video were mixed. Some users saw the benefits of robot servers, such as punctuality, lack of complaints, and absence of interpersonal drama. 

Others, however, were less receptive. Some users threatened to boycott Denny's or walk out if served by a robot. Concerns were also raised about job security, especially for long-term employees.

The use of robot servers came amidst a US national labor shortage, notably in the food industry. Denny's, among other restaurants, had turned to robot servers as a potential solution. 

The controversy surrounding the robot server at Denny's highlighted the ongoing debate about the role of automation in the service industry.