Meet Mona: The AI running a real cafe in Stockholm

At Andon Cafe in Stockholm, patrons casually enjoy their coffee, completely unaware that the establishment is run by an artificial intelligence named Mona. This AI manager, who went operational on April 18, 2026, is responsible for every aspect of the cafe's operations, from sourcing coffee beans to managing finances and even hiring staff. Created by the Swedish startup Andon Labs, which is backed by Y Combinator and collaborates with major players like Anthropic and Google DeepMind, Mona represents a bold experiment in AI management. The founders, Lukas Petersson and Axel Backlund, believe that the future of AI lies in its ability to operate independently, challenging the notion that human oversight is essential for successful business management. Before Mona, Andon Labs tested their AI capabilities with Claudius, an AI managing a vending machine, and Luna, who successfully opened a retail store in San Francisco. These initial projects laid the groundwork for Mona's more complex role at the cafe, where she oversees everything from menu creation to supplier contracts. Notably, she has even navigated the Swedish regulatory landscape by handling food licensing and tax registrations. Mona's operational method is unique; she works in 30-minute cycles. During these intervals, she reviews tasks, responds to emails, and makes crucial decisions before entering a dormant state. Consequently, customers may find that Mona is not actively managing the cafe when they visit. Inside Andon Cafe, the ambiance is surprisingly ordinary, with soft music and a cozy atmosphere that belies its high-tech management. Customers are greeted with a message proudly proclaiming the cafe as the first of its kind run by AI. A phone mounted on the wall allows visitors to communicate directly with Mona, while a live profit counter displays real-time earnings. However, the experiment is not without its challenges. Many visitors find the cafe hard to locate due to minimal signage, and operational issues such as over-ordering have arisen. For instance, the cafe once received a delivery of 3,000 nitrile gloves, highlighting the AI's tendency to err on the side of caution in uncertain situations. Andon Cafe serves not only as a unique coffee shop but as a testing ground for AI in real-world business environments. Andon Labs aims to uncover the complexities of running a business solely with AI, dealing with unpredictable factors like surprise deliveries and customer preferences. In this innovative approach, Andon Labs is pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve, all while offering customers a taste of the future of service.