Can you instruct a robot to make a PBJ sandwich?
Source: Hacker News
Meet Robbie, a relentlessly literal robot. Robbie follows your instructions exactly — no assumptions, no common sense, no “figuring it out.” Most people think they can explain a simple process. Most people are wrong.
The Challenge
The PBJ test reveals how you think about processes — and why your instructions fail. It’s a free, three‑minute challenge built by The Deliberate Company.
Evaluation Dimensions
Completeness
Did you cover all the essential steps? Most people skip the obvious ones because they assume someone will “just know.”
Precision
Did you avoid vague instructions? “Put peanut butter on the bread” sounds right but leaves everything to interpretation.
Atomic Thinking
Did you catch the subtle steps? Wiping the knife, removing the safety seal, actually delivering the sandwich—the details that separate good from great.
How It Works
- 6 quick rounds – From gathering supplies to clean‑up, select the steps Robbie needs at each stage. Tap the options you think are important.
- Get your score – See how you scored across the three dimensions and find out your process‑thinking tier, from Chaos Agent to Process Architect.
- See what Robbie did – A round‑by‑round breakdown of exactly what happened when Robbie followed your instructions literally.
Want to go deeper?
The PBJ test is based on the principles behind Deliberate Work — a methodology for designing how your business actually runs.
Read the Deliberate Work blog for more details.