Robo-guac… Siri and Alexa may be smart, but Chipotle’s new robot can cook. Next month, the burrito chain will test a kitchen bot named Chippy that makes (and seasons) tortilla chips. The robot is made by Miso Robotics, which has also designed kitchen bots for White Castle and Buffalo Wild Wings. As restaurants continue struggling to fill positions, fast-casual giants like Starbucks, Panera, and McDonald’s have begun automating operations. That may lead to fatter profits for companies long-term, but fewer jobs for workers.
Feeling lucky… Casino stocks like Wynn and Las Vegas Sands popped last week as China’s gambling capital prepared to ease Covid restrictions. Last week, Macau (the world's largest gambling hub) said it would start accepting mainland Chinese tourists as soon as next month. Back in 2019, Macau earned 6X the annual revenue of Vegas and accounted for over half of business from US casino giants. Global gaming revenue this year is expected to be just 14% of pre-pandemic levels, but Macau’s reopening could boost the recovery.