'I’m not tipping the robot': MLB announces AI-robot bartenders for All-Star Week, and fans are not happy



The MLB announced that robotic bartenders were going to be serving drinks during All-Star Week as part of a new initiative with multiple robotics companies.

Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, is the host for the 2024 MLB All-Star games, and fans are getting a literal taste of what the league's new technology has to offer ahead of the game.

The first system is called ADAM, an artificial intelligence-driven service robot developed by Nevada company Richtech Robotics Inc. It can reportedly make drinks, clean up after itself, greet customers, and carry on simple conversations.

"Adam was our CEO's [Wayne Huang’s] vision. He wanted something new to the market for food and beverage," said engineer Jakub Campbell. "It's not just a robot. [Richtech Robotics] wanted it to have a personality and they can talk to you, it waves at you, gives you small talk, stuff like that," he added, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

'If you're going to the All-Star Game, a mammal may not make your drink.'

The MLB posted a video of the robot to its X account, showcasing the machine making drinks with a Texas Rangers jersey and hat draped over it. Fan reactions to the AI bartender were less than pleasant:

"I'm not tipping the robot," said an L.A. Dodgers fan.

"Robots taking human jobs? In this economy?" another fan chimed in.

I’m not tipping the robot
— Dodgers Muse (@LADodgersMuse) July 10, 2024

"Can we just get a beer?" the official Budweiser account replied.

Can we just get a beer?
— Budweiser (@budweiserusa) July 10, 2024

Many other replies complained about the arrival of a dystopian future and the prospect that the robot is too slow or could break down, causing further delays.

However, as Dallas reporter Alan Scaia pointed out, this wasn't the only robot drink-maker available to fans in the 100 level of the stadium.

"If you're going to the All-Star Game, a mammal may not make your drink. They've got 2 different robot bartenders, ADAM and Rotender. Rotender's founder says soda & liquor are measured to milliliter. 'Very precise. You always know what you're getting,'" Scaia wrote on X.

Rotender is an automated cocktail machine out of Los Angeles, with the company claiming it can make a drink in 30 seconds. The robot's backstory is alleged to be based off a study that said fans spend an average of 30 minutes waiting for drinks.

"We said, hey, let's make a machine where you can get simple stuff. It's not going to be a mixologist, it's not going to take several minutes to make. All you have is a big screen, big buttons, you tap what you want, you tap your card to pay and you're good to go. You're finally free to enjoy the experience that you came to see," said founder Ben Winston.

Rotender is a lot closer to a vending machine than its counterpart ADAM and is likely to be more accepted by the majority of fans because of that. A picture of the "self-serve satellite bar" showed a machine with two screens and a transparent section in between. Customers can see upside-down liquor bottles on a rotating belt that initializes their selection before pouring the desired drink.

The 2024 MLB All-Star Game is on July 16, 2024.

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Victorious Braves fans mercilessly boo MLB commissioner — who took All-Star Game out of Georgia — after he starts speaking at World Series trophy presentation



Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred had to know it was coming with an Atlanta Braves triumph in this year's World Series.

And sure enough, even though the Braves' clinching win Tuesday night took place on the Houston Astros' home field, a big contingent of Braves fans were in the building — and they hung around after the game, gathered along the third-base line, and dutifully began booing as soon as Manfred began speaking.

Check it out:

Rob Manfred delivers World Series trophy to the BRAVES!youtu.be

It really was like clockwork: Cheers for the Braves at the start of the video, immediate boos when Manfred began to speak, and cheering for the Braves after he was done.

What's the background?

Manfred already was on the hot seat — and getting massively mocked — after the Braves won the National League Championship Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers last week.

The reason? Manfred got woke in April and pulled the All-Star Game out of Atlanta over Georgia's new voting law. At the time Manfred said it was "the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport," that pro baseball "fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions at the ballot box," and that "fair access to voting continues to have our game's unwavering support."

Georgia's election reforms include requiring absentee ballots be verified with a photo ID and expanding early voting for primary and general elections — changes generally supported by Republicans and opposed by Democrats.

After Manfred dumped Atlanta as the All-Star Game's host city, Georgia's Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said "Georgians — and all Americans — should fully understand what the MLB's knee-jerk decision means: cancel culture and woke political activists are coming for every aspect of your life, sports included."

The Braves also issued a statement upon hearing the news saying they were "deeply disappointed" in the decision and that "unfortunately, businesses, employees, and fans in Georgia are the victims of this decision."

Indeed, according to Fox News, the move actually was seen as hurting minorities by moving revenue from 51% black Atlanta to 76% white Denver, the All-Star Game's eventual landing spot.

'Straight KARMA'

Atlanta fans tore into Manfred and relished the vision of him handing the World Series trophy to the Braves — the ultimate revenge.

And then that very thing happened on live TV.

With that, Braves fans got in Manfred's virtual face once again and dined on their three-piece suit-wearing pound of flesh while basking in victory:

  • "Rob Manfred having to hand the @Braves the World Series Trophy last night is straight KARMA for f***ing them out of the All-Star game," one Twitter user declared. "@MLB needs to thank the @Braves for overcoming the hypocrisy and making this an epic World Series."
  • "Reminiscing on how Rob Manfred could not stand straight or avoid looking for the nearest exit while having to congratulate all the people he personally screwed over," another user noticed.
  • "Braves winning the World Series is the perfect bitch slap to Manfred," another user said. "Moving the All-Star Game out of Georgia just for ATL to win it all with even more fans watching and in attendance. Hahaha."

Oh, and this:

The Braves winning the World Series is a smack in the face to woke MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred for moving the All-Star Game out of Atlantahttps://notthebee.com/article/the-braves-winning-the-world-series-is-a-smack-in-the-face-to-the-woke-mlb-for-moving-the-all-star-game-out-of-atlanta\u00a0\u2026

— Not the Bee (@Not_the_Bee) 1635950723

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'A purely political decision'

MLB commissioner who dumped Atlanta for All-Star Game due to GA voting law gets massively mocked now that Braves are in World Series



Major League Baseball's woke idea in early April apparently was to punish Georgia for what it viewed as its unfair, recently passed voting law by yanking the All-Star Game from Atlanta.

At the time, MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred Jr. said the move was "the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport," that pro baseball "fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions at the ballot box," and that "fair access to voting continues to have our game's unwavering support."

Georgia's election reforms include requiring absentee ballots be verified with a photo ID and expanding early voting for primary and general elections — changes generally supported by Republicans and opposed by Democrats.

'Cancel culture and woke political activists'

After Manfred dumped Atlanta as the All-Star Game's host city, Georgia's Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said "Georgians — and all Americans — should fully understand what the MLB's knee-jerk decision means: cancel culture and woke political activists are coming for every aspect of your life, sports included."

He added, "This attack on our state is the direct result of repeated lies from Joe Biden and Stacey Abrams about a bill that expands access to the ballot box and ensures the integrity of our elections. I will not back down. Georgians will not be bullied. We will continue to stand up for secure, accessible, fair elections."

The Braves also issued a statement upon hearing the news saying they were "deeply disappointed" in the decision to move the All-Star Game out of Atlanta and that "unfortunately, businesses, employees, and fans in Georgia are the victims of this decision."

Indeed, according to Fox News, the move actually would hurt minorities by moving revenue from 51% black Atlanta to 76% white Denver, the All-Star Game's eventual landing spot.

Georgia gets some sweet revenge

Well, Manfred may have been able to deny Georgia a big national spotlight — along with coveted cash — by pulling the All-Star Game from Atlanta this year, but there's nothing he can do about the Braves punching their ticket to the World Series after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the National League Championship over the weekend.

The Braves will host at least games 3 and 4 on Friday and Saturday in Atlanta against the Houston Astros — and possibly game 5 on Sunday.

What was the reaction?

In the eyes of many folks, the Braves' appearance in the Series is some big-time comeuppance for Manfred and all those who supported dumping Atlanta for the All-Star Game.

At the top of the list was Kemp, who took aim again at Abrams — who has been a prominent voice against the state's voting law — as well as the MLB: "While Stacey Abrams and the MLB stole the All-Star Game from hardworking Georgians, the Braves earned their trip to the World Series this season and are bringing it home to Georgia. Chop On, and Go @Braves!"

While Stacey Abrams and the MLB stole the All-Star Game from hardworking Georgians, the Braves earned their trip to… https://t.co/wjil9uNRJ1

— Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) 1635047169.0

Another prominent Georgia Republican, Marci McCarthy — chair of the DeKalb GOP — reveled in the turn of events:

Congratulations @Braves ! ⚾️ Who needs the @MLB All Star Game when you get to play in the World Series! #GoBraves

— Marci McCarthy (@MarciMcCarthyUS) 1635047919.0

Other Twitter users expressed similar emotions:

  • "So now the woke-social justice warrior moron, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, has to watch the team, the city, and the state he screwed — on the biggest stage — the only one bigger than the All-Star game," talk radio station WJNO-AM said.
  • "Big Middle Finger to @MLB & Rob Manfred from the city of ATL," one user said. "Would love to see Manchild 'forced' to present them the Series trophy after Game 5 in front of stadium full of fans from which he ripped Henry Aaron All-Star tribute ..."
  • "Rob Manfred has to come to Atlanta for the World Series!!" another user said. "Eat. S**t. MLB."
  • "Now we need the Braves to win the series in 4 or 5 so Rob Manfred has to be here to face the fans to present the trophy after taking the All-Star Game," another user noted.
  • "I wonder how Rob Manfred feels about the city of Atlanta and Braves being in World Series after canceling All-Star game," another user mused. "Another horrible hypocrite that should not show his face at World Series."
  • I hope the @Braves go on & win the World Series at Truist Park! We'll see how warm of a reception Rob Manfred gets when he has to present the [Trophy] in Atlanta after moving the All-Star game in a 'woke' political move that has nothing to do with baseball."

And on the day the Braves got the bad news about the All-Star Game moving — April 2 — one user posted a humorous tweet referring to a famous scene from the beloved baseball movie, "Major League," which marks the turning point for the frustrated franchise in the film:

@Braves well, then I guess there is one thing left to do this year..... #ChopOn https://t.co/2PBJXFye58 https://t.co/MOILcuzTSC

— Brad Rose (@Brose1855) 1617404579.0

And the guy who posted the original tweet revisited it Sunday: "Only fitting ending is for Rob Manfred to hand the trophy to the @Braves organization."

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