Automated.

I had lunch at a chain restaurant of “high end fast food”. I don’t want to name the brand, so let’s just call them St. Louis Bread Company. I realized one can go through an entire meal experience at this particular chain without talking to one single human being. Orders are placed through a kiosk Text messages are sent to your phone when the food is ready The food is left on a counter for pick up When you’ve completed your meal, you take your dishes and stuff to the trash receptacle You leave That’s it. I didn’t talk to a single human being in the place. Here’s the slip that was attached to my food when it was pushed out a slot in the counter and onto a table with some other orders that were awaiting pickup. There were people milling about in the kitchen area. The automation told them when to pick up the pace and/or call for more people to help them. I didn’t see them ask for help. And here’s a monitor where you can see the status of your order at any given time. Usually I find…