written and last updated by
Sam Smith at
05 Sep 2023
Journalist, Editorial Department
In 2019, the Nevada Independent published a forecast predicting that by 2035, between 38% and 65% of jobs in Southern Nevada could be automated. Now, NPR reports that casinos, bars, restaurants, and other establishments in Las Vegas are increasingly turning to AI to handle a variety of tasks.
According to NPR, the Culinary Union, which represents around 60,000 workers in Nevada's service and hospitality sectors, is preparing to take proactive measures. Union representatives aim to include a clause in future labor agreements that protects jobs from being replaced by AI. Union members are ready to take radical steps to secure this guarantee.
"I would like to say that we will reach an agreement. But if it comes to it, we are prepared to fight hard and do everything possible, including striking against technology," said Ted Pappageorge, the union's secretary-treasurer.
Las Vegas already showcases live examples of robots replacing bartenders and security personnel. In April, a TikTok user shared a video of a mechanical arm mixing a pineapple-flavored cocktail. "The robot is making me a drink," the woman commented.
NPR reports that two robotic bars, Tipsy Robot, have already opened in Las Vegas. However, as Sabrina Bergman, an employee at one of the bars, points out, the robots still make mistakes, such as tipping over cups or failing to fill glasses completely.
Another example is the M Resort, a hotel-casino located south of Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada. Earlier this year, they began using a security robot in the parking lot. "It patrols the area looking for any potential issues with 50 cameras and sensors," a local TV station, KVVU, reported in February.
However, not all workers believe that AI can fully replace human employees. Holly Lang, a waitress at MGM Grand, argues that robots cannot provide the same personal service that most Las Vegas workers offer. "We have many regular guests, and they come for the personal interaction, not for technology," she said.
Notably, Curaçao is launching an updated application process for iGaming licenses.
