Nala Robotics, the AI tech company fueling restaurant cooking automation, is now tackling one of the food industry's toughest and hardest jobs to fill with the introduction of Spotless by Nala, a robotic dishwasher that can easily be added to professional kitchens with minimal changes to existing layouts. Currently being deployed in restaurants, senior living centers and other commercial venues, Spotless uses high-performance camera systems and machine learning to provide a complete dishwashing solution, from scrubbing to storage. This highly intelligent robot will remove leftovers, rinse and clean cookware, cutlery, dishware and glassware, as well as dry, stack and store hundreds of varieties of utensils and kitchenware. "Our revolutionary patented dishwashing system allows operators to overcome staffing challenges and never miss a smudge," says Ajay Sunkara, CEO of Nala Robotics. "We've heard countless stories from managers and owners who had to pull double duty because the dish washer didn't show up for work. By installing our robot, they'll never have to worry about turnaround time and every dish will be spotless."

During the pandemic, robots are the literal breadwinners. As Samir Menon, the founder and CEO of robotics startup Dexterity, told Fortune, the "coronavirus took us a bit on a wild ride." Dexterity, a roughly two-and-a-half-year-old startup that's raised $56.2 million in funding from investors like Kleiner Perkins and Lightspeed Venture Partners, specializes in software that makes industrial robots, like mechanical grippers and machines that pick-and-place items, more capable. Among the customers that have relied on Dexterity's technology during the pandemic is Bimbo Bakeries, which produces some well-known baked goods via brands like Sara Lee, Oroweat, and Boboli. Because Dexterity is working with Bimbo Bakeries, the startup has been deemed an "essential business," since the food supply chain needs to continue operating unperturbed amid the lockdowns.