(Credit: PCMag)
LAS VEGAS—Could a robot replace human bartenders? At CES, a startup is showing off an AI-powered machine that can create a drink for you.
The AI Barmen system doesn’t operate like your typical humanoid robot. Instead, it looks more like a kitchen island that features a touch screen to display the various beverages.
The AI Barmen doesn’t just dispense drinks, though. It’s designed to engage in chit-chat like a real bartender, check your age, and monitor whether you’re too drunk for another drink using facial-recognition technology.
(Credit: PCMag)The approach sounds good on paper. But it doesn’t mix well with noise. At a crowded CES event here, I tried asking the machine for a drink. But despite repeated attempts, the AI Barmen struggled to hear me due to the surrounding chatter. I also couldn’t hear the machine's response.
The AI Barmen’s facial recognition is also a bit questionable. When I first used it, the machine guessed that I was 26 years old. Then, in another try, it thought I was 44. Neither was correct, but it did successfully recognize that I was an adult.
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(Credit: PCMag)The shaky facial recognition leaves us skeptical about the machine's sobriety testing. The website says: "It analyzes your face, how fast you're ordering, and how strong your drinks were. If things start getting too fast, it slows the night down gently—a softer drink, a suggestion for water, or a switch to zero-proof options. Not to stop the fun—but to keep you safe."
(Credit: PCMag)Despite the drawbacks, I could see the appeal in terms of convenience. No need to look through a menu; the AI Barmen’s touch screen offers a wide variety of familiar drinks and AI-created concoctions. Once you pick one, the machine will dispense ingredients and mix the drink inside its kitchen island-like interior. The drink will then pop up through a trap door on the surface.
I ordered an “AI Golden Margarita,” and it was not bad. Sure, the ordering experience and the drink felt sterile; an experienced mixologist could likely do better. But it was also a fun novelty.
The San Francisco startup behind AI Barmen has been leasing the unit for $1,500 per event. The company also plans on offering devices through a monthly subscription to appeal to more businesses. To create the drinks, the device is packed with syrups, kegs, and ice to mix and dispense the various beverages.
Although the AI Barmen is far from perfect, it might gain traction with curious bar-goers. Its creators are hoping to raise funds to help expand the business. Another plan is to "gamify" the experience, letting users earn points for trying new drinks and receive badges for trying AI Barmen in different locations.