, Columnist
That Intelligence Is Artificial, All Right
It's still just a vending machine.
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I'm sad to say I was promised flying cars and I got ... vending machines?
I'm referring to Silicon Valley's derision du jour, a startup called Bodega. A couple of ex-Google employees are placing 8-square-foot locked cabinets in buildings or stores that are stocked with microwave popcorn, mouthwash, LaCroix sparkling water (of course) and other nonperishable items commonly sold at convenience stores.