The barista is human but an AI agent runs this experimental Swedish cafe

The barista is human but an AI agent runs this experimental Swedish cafeJames BrooksAssociated PressPublished: May 11, 2026 at 1:17 AMFull Screen1 / 3Previous photoNext photoHanna Petersson, a member of Andon Labs technical staff, uses a telephone handset to speak with Andon Caf's AI agent 'Mona' in Stockholm, Sweden, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)Barista Kajetan Grzelczak makes a coffee at Andon Caf at the Vasastan neighborhood in Stockholm, Sweden, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)A general view of the entrance of the Andon Caf at the Vasastan neighborhood in Stockholm, Sweden, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reservedHanna Petersson, a member of Andon Labs technical staff, uses a telephone handset to speak with Andon Caf's AI agent 'Mona' in Stockholm, Sweden, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)STOCKHOLM – The coffee might be poured by a human hand, but behind the counter something far less traditional is calling the shots at an experimental cafe in Stockholm.San Francisco-based startup Andon Labs has put an artificial intelligence agent nicknamed “Mona” in charge at the eponymous Andon Café in the Swedish capital. While human baristas still brew the coffee and serve the orders, the AI agent — powered by Google’s Gemini — oversees almost every other aspect of the business, from hiring staff to managing inventory. Recommended VideosIt is not clear how long the experiment will...