In 2024, Lucy Allary, the pregnant founder of the vegan ice cream shop Eisbrunnen, is facing significant challenges as a self-employed individual without maternity leave entitlement. Juggling the responsibilities of operating two stores, she plans to work until the day before her son's birth, quickly transitioning back to her duties just three weeks afterward. While she does not recommend such an intense work schedule, Allary has managed to find a silver lining in her circumstances, which prompted her to innovate in her business operations.

As she was required to find ways to automate and optimize her processes due to her impending motherhood, Allary developed an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant named Frosty. Originally a project initiated by two mathematicians in her employ, they programmed Frosty within a few weeks at the start of 2024. This AI, built using an open-source modular system, has been integrated into her shop to assist with various tasks that help streamline operations during a critical time for Allary.

Frosty represents not just a personal solution for Allary’s unique challenges but also a wider trend in the gastronomic industry, where automation and AI play increasingly significant roles. As food businesses look for ways to adapt to the demands of modern consumers and workforce dynamics, Allary's experience reflects a growing acknowledgment of technology's role in mitigating operational pressures, especially for entrepreneurs balancing family and business commitments.