California senior center have A.I. robots serve food

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CNN, KYMA/KECY) - Artificial intelligence (A.I.) is helping feed seniors at an assisted living facility in Sacramento.

In spite of the high-tech assistance, all the human employees are keeping their jobs.

It's the lunch rush at Oakmont East Sacramento, and they're rolling plates out. Quite literally.

"It definitely helps keep the attention for the servers on the floor so that way we can do this part back here," said Matt Parmley, executive chef.

A.I. servers bring food to residents and without replacing human servers.

"At first, I did think like 'Oh no! This is not gonna go well.' But it actually turned out really well," Topanga Timko, a staff member.

More time to interact

Now instead of replacement, the robots bring out the food and bus tables.

Giving servers more time to interact with residents.

"It is to enhance that relationship if we're not cutting staffing down in any scope of the imagination it's to have those servers be next to them and talking to them and really get to know them," Luis Olivas, executive director.

Residents here say it came as a surprise.

"All of a sudden there were robots, two of them and it was like they were carrying food and it was just cool," Joann Bodine, a resident.

Taking pressure off

But one that can help take pressure off the wait staff.

"There's a routine they're supposed to follow and this will allow them to do the routine without all the interruption," said Neil Bodine, Joann's husband.

This could be a new wave in dining for this type of setting.

"I like becoming friends with them and they like becoming friends with us and they like telling us stories and I think it makes them more happy when we're around more," Timko expressed.

The servers also say the A.I. robots take the pressure off staffing issues like sick-outs.