Sweden’s first AI-Run Café faces major failures in early operations

Saturday 23 May 2026 - 17:30

The first café in Europe reportedly managed by artificial intelligence has encountered significant operational difficulties in Sweden, raising questions about the readiness of AI systems to handle real-world management tasks.

Located in Stockholm, the café is powered by an AI system based on Google Gemini technology and features a virtual manager named “Mona.” The project was designed to explore how automation could transform hospitality operations. However, early results have been far from successful.

Since its launch, staff and media reports have highlighted numerous operational errors, including incorrect supply orders, missing essential ingredients, and inconsistent decision-making. In several cases, the AI ordered products such as eggs and tomato purée despite them not being used in the café’s menu.

In other instances, key items like bread were frequently forgotten, forcing staff to remove sandwiches from the menu on certain days due to supply shortages. Employees also reported confusing and impractical instructions that did not align with real workplace conditions or labor practices.

The experiment illustrates the current limitations of AI systems when applied to complex managerial roles requiring contextual understanding, human judgment, and adaptability.

While artificial intelligence continues to advance rapidly in areas such as customer service and data processing, experts suggest that full automation of hospitality management still faces significant technical and practical challenges.

The case of the Stockholm AI café highlights the gap between technological ambition and operational reality, suggesting that human oversight remains essential in service industries for the foreseeable future.