An artificial-intelligence agent nicknamed “Mona” now manages the day-to-day operations of the Andon Café in Stockholm, Sweden [1, 2].
The experiment tests whether AI can handle the complexities of hospitality management, including staffing and supply ordering, while maintaining a human presence for customer service.
Developed by San Francisco-based startup Andon Labs, Mona serves as the managerial brain of the establishment [1, 3]. While a human barista remains behind the counter to pour the coffee and interact with guests, the AI agent is responsible for the business decisions that keep the shop running [1, 2].
According to the Associated Press, "The coffee might be poured by a human hand, but behind the counter something far less traditional is calling the shots" [1].
The café opened in late April 2026 [4, 5]. In its first week of operation, the shop drew between 50 and 80 customers per day [4].
Andon Labs designed the venue as a living laboratory to observe how AI interacts with customers and optimizes the logistics of a small business [1, 3]. By delegating managerial tasks to Mona, the company aims to determine if algorithmic efficiency can replace traditional human oversight in the service industry [3].
The current model maintains a hybrid approach, ensuring that the final point of contact for the consumer remains human [2]. This allows the startup to gather data on operational efficiency without fully removing the human element from the hospitality experience [1].
“The coffee might be poured by a human hand, but behind the counter something far less traditional is calling the shots.”
This experiment represents a shift from using AI as a simple tool to using it as a decision-maker in physical retail environments. By separating the managerial role (AI) from the service role (human), Andon Labs is testing a modular labor model that could potentially reduce overhead costs for small businesses if the AI can successfully optimize inventory and staffing.
