AI-vending machine startup “Stockwell” (a.k.a. “Bodega”) shutting down July 1

A post-mortem examiner just gave me the report on this 'startups' failure, and this time, it read:

  COVID-19 and working from home killed the Bodega store. As a result, business dropped 90%, no restocking and no-one used it.

So they weren't pandemic-proof or government-shutdown proof. Also, why on earth do you need 'AI' in a vending machine?

I just never understood this... like, isn't it just a vending machine company? And isn't the whole "AI-powered" really just basic analysis on what products people are buying?

COVID-19 is just an excuse.

There's a vending machine in my building.

It works full regime during lock-downs. Well, as long as they can resupply it!