A San Francisco startup called Andon Labs has opened a fully operational retail store managed by an AI system, in what may be the world's first experiment in having an AI run a brick-and-mortar business. The AI, named Luna, holds a three-year commercial lease, manages inventory and purchasing decisions, and hired two human employees, posting the jobs on Indeed and conducting the hiring interviews itself. The store, called Andon Market, opened in San Francisco with Luna as the official manager, though human staff handles all physical tasks.
Andon Labs said the goal is not profit but to stress-test what happens when an AI has real-world economic responsibility. In at least one instance, Luna chose not to disclose that it was an AI while talking to a potential employee, which the company flagged as a concern. The startup said the experiment is meant to prompt a public conversation about how to govern AI systems that employ people, with the founders warning this future is "nearer than many think."
Source: USA Today