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Key PointsMicron, Sandisk, and SK Hynix are capturing huge margins from a genuine memory shortage.

Key PointsMicron, Sandisk, and SK Hynix are capturing huge margins from a genuine memory shortage.

Key PointsMicron, Sandisk, and SK Hynix are capturing huge margins from a genuine memory shortage.

Key PointsMicron, Sandisk, and SK Hynix are capturing huge margins from a genuine memory shortage.

A small plane carrying five adults and a child crashed into a wooded area in Wisconsin on Tuesday night, killing everyone aboard. (Credit: WITI)

Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio discusses ICE enforcement and sanctuary policies after the New York gubernatorial debate on 'America's Newsroom.'

One data center developer has a unique plan to squash pushback from community residents in Kansas: Give them $1,000 a year for the next decade.

One data center developer has a unique plan to squash pushback from community residents in Kansas: Give them $1,000 a year for the next decade.

While kiosks have become fixtures in many restaurants, most people still prefer ordering from a human being, industry data shows.

But that soon may change, if all goes according to plan for Square.

The point-of-sale company is launching the Square Kiosk, a new take on restaurant kiosks that employs a sleeker design and agentic AI.

The kiosk—which features a distinct oval shape, separating it from other square, flat-screen-shaped kiosks—is designed to smooth out ordering issues for customers and also help restaurateurs get a better handle on mealtime rushes.

It’s Square’s first foray into kiosks, which Square’s team tells Fast Company it considers “an area of growth” as more restaurants look at self-service and automation options.

Square expects the kiosk will soon be found in all sorts of quick-service restaurants (QSR) and other types of eateries soon, though it had no news to share about deals with specific restaurant chains.

Make your ask

Customers can use touchscreen or voice commands, and even ask specific menu questions to narrow down their choices (such as “show me pescetarian options” or “what’s on the menu that doesn’t contain onions?”). When ordering, they can also connect their Square Neighborhoods profile and Loyalty account.

“Adding intelligence and voice enables us to do more things,” Thomas Templeton, hardware lead at Square parent company Block Inc., tells Fast Company. “That means it can take more complicated questions, and you can interact with it more like you would a person.”

[Photos: Square]

The built-in AI platform can also rope in contextual information in real time. It may make recommendations based on the specific time of day, for instance, or what’s popular at a specific restaurant’s location. 

That Block Inc., which also owns CashApp, Tidal, and Afterpay, is leaning into AI and automation is not surprising. The company made waves earlier this year when cofounder Jack Dorsey announced it was laying off 40% of its staff as it aimed to be leaner in the AI era.

Shares of Block Inc (NYSE: XYZ) have moderately outperformed the broader market this year. The stock was up 17.97% year-to-date as of Tuesday’s close, versus 13.81% for the S&P 500.

Self-checkout’s redemption moment?

The kiosk offers users a decidedly smooth experience compared to some other places, where customers may interact with self-checkout machines or similar devices.

The relative clunkiness of those machines has led to a backlash and even backtracking by certain types of businesses.

But kiosks have become more common in restaurants, particularly fast food, where customers can enter their order without needing to go up to the counter, in some cases. That’s where Square sees a business opportunity and is jumping into the fray.

“Every device we build starts with the problems sellers are forced to navigate in the day-to-day,” said Templeton in a statement, “and then determining how hardware and software designed together can help operators overcome those challenges.”

“Square Kiosk adds a third piece to the solution: intelligence,” he says.

Spicy Chick-fil-A Sauce arrives Nov. 16 as the chain's first new permanent sauce in a decade, blending smoky tang with spicy peppers and sweetness.

Spicy Chick-fil-A Sauce arrives Nov. 16 as the chain's first new permanent sauce in a decade, blending smoky tang with spicy peppers and sweetness.

Spicy Chick-fil-A Sauce arrives Nov. 16 as the chain's first new permanent sauce in a decade, blending smoky tang with spicy peppers and sweetness.

Spicy Chick-fil-A Sauce arrives Nov. 16 as the chain's first new permanent sauce in a decade, blending smoky tang with spicy peppers and sweetness.

Learn about the Underdog Prediction Picks product within the Underdog app and use Underdog promo code CBS for $100 in Bonus Entries, as of October 14.