So-called artificial intelligence (AI) will keep staff at fast casual dining low. Till more affordable bots can serve and clean tables.

Applebee’s and IHOP Plan to Introduce AI in Restaurants - WSJ
https://www.wsj.com/articles/applebees-and-ihop-plan-to-introduce-ai-in-restaurants-61770ca5

"...
One promise of AI is that it can make fast-food and casual-dining restaurants more automated, lessening the need for human labor and speeding up the work of existing staff. The ability to offset labor costs—whether by reducing or more accurately forecasting it—is a major cost savings for restaurants, Jashinsky said.

AI can also make the dining experience more efficient and satisfying for customers at drive-throughs and in restaurants.

But there is reason to proceed with caution: AI-based order taking isn’t always accurate, and Wendy’s faced backlash last year for testing menus that used AI to adjust pricing.
..."

They'll keep at it, till it's normalized. As it already is at some stores.