>>The author really doesn’t understand the problem restaurants are trying to solve. They haven’t replaced people yet, but over time, when customers get used to using them, is a completely different matter. And they will work really well as strike insurance. <<
2 words: Opportunity Cost.
If burger slingers get $15 an hour compared to a machine that can do it for $12 is a really dang good deal. Lower per hour cost, no benefits, no calling in sick (the contract will ensure a specialist will be on call with a 20 minute response like we did in the old Mainframe days).
The $15/hour fast food wage will ensure there will be few, if any, fast food jobs available — not now but forever.
When cars started replacing horse and buggies, the buggy whips became obsolete. Same thing will happen with the burger slingers. And they do not have the education to do any thing else.