So we haven't exactly discovered A.I. yet, but a computer is already ordering people around. A company called Hyperactive Technologies has a product that is used for kitchen production management, and now a fast-food chain is using it to order around its employees.

Zaxby's [a fast-food chain] has 330 counter-service chicken specialty restaurants. This artificially intelligent computer system not only takes orders, it gives them as well.

Hyperactive Bob makes use of different forms of robotics technology to help manage fast food restaurants:

• Sensing the environment: The system uses robotic vision to count the cars in the parking lot, gathers feedback from employees and collects point-of-sale information in real time.
• Artificial Intelligence: Hyperactive Bob analyzes historical and real-time data to learn about each restaurant individually. Hyperactive Technologies claims that HB is more accurate than most seasoned employees.
• Taking Charge: Hyperactive Bob uses touch screens to tell employees what to do. Employees are instructed how much of which foods to cook; when the food is ready, they tell HB.

So if the computer crashes, do the employees get the day off? I wouldn't want to work for a computer, especially if all I was getting was minimum wage. What if a sensor malfunctioned and it suddenly thought 800 cars just appeared in the parking lot and told the employees to throw everything they had stocked into the fryers? "Quick! Make 400 lbs. of fries!"