What's happening: Advances in artificial intelligence are coming to your freezer, in the form of robot-assembled prepared meals. Chef Robotics, a San Francisco-based startup, has launched a system of AI-powered robotic arms that can be quickly programmed with a recipe to dole out accurate portions of everything from tikka masala to pesto tortellini. Why it matters: You might think the meals that end up in the grocery store's frozen aisle or on airplanes are robot-packed already, but that's rarely the case. The vast majority of meals from recognizable brands are still typically hand-packed, because workers are often much more flexible than robots and can handle production lines that frequently rotate recipes. However, advancements from AI have changed the calculus, making robots more useful on production lines.

You might think the meals that end up in the grocery store's frozen aisle, at Starbucks, or on airplanes are robot-packed already, but that's rarely the case. Workers are often much more flexible than robots and can handle production lines that frequently rotate recipes. Not only that, but certain ingredients, like rice or shredded cheese, are hard to portion out with robotic arms. That means the vast majority of meals from recognizable brands are still typically hand-packed. However, advancements from AI have changed the calculus, making robots more useful on production lines, says David Griego, senior director of engineering at Amy's. "Before Silicon Valley got involved, the industry was much more about'Okay, we're gonna program--a robot is gonna do this and do this only,'" he says.