How Smart Menus and AI Are Changing the Way We Eat
Artificial Intelligence is, as you’ll probably already know, everywhere these days. Companies are dipping their toes into the water, and now every industry’s relationship with the burgeoning technology is changing. The worldwide AI market has already exploded, but looks set to become even bigger – from USD $235 billion in 2024 to over $631 billion by 2028, and, perhaps surprisingly to some, a significant proportion of its growth will come from the food server sector.
According to a global Deloitte survey of 375 restaurant executives, a staggering 82% expect AI investments to grow in the next fiscal year. But if you’re imagining robot chefs, you’re going to be disappointed. AI in the restaurant industry is more likely going to shift how eateries operate and how guests experience dining.
From hyper-personalized menus to invisible payments, AI is rebuilding the restaurant model from the ground up, creating a future where dining is more efficient, personalized, and immersive.
Where We Are Today
AI is involved in your dining experiences already, even if you haven’t registered it yet. For many restaurateurs, the initial focus of the game changing technology has been on practical applications that streamline operations and cut costs. This first wave of adoptions is tackling long-standing industry challenges and cost pressures.
Things like AI phone answering, which prevents lost revenue from missed calls by automatically providing guests with accurate information and even directing them to place an order, are an example of how AI is already making sense for the food service sector. In the back of house, integrated inventory and purchasing systems use AI to track historical data and product inventory needs to reduce food waste and prevent dishes from being out of stock. Predictive analytics is being used to ensure that a restaurant has the staff it needs and that the staff are scheduled effectively.
So far, the technology has been used to essentially ensure there is no lost revenue, thanks to shortcomings in the front of house and in the back of house, to take all the available data and map out the most efficient and cost-effective way to manage stock and human resources. Lots of restaurateurs are using this approach, too, with 55% of executives reporting using AI in inventory management every day.
A Look Into The Future
For many, AI now seems like science fiction, similar to many of us who didn’t imagine online casinos changing the way people gamble, and sites like gambling.com leading the way and providing users with customized casino options based on their preferences and tastes.
The future is already here when it comes to AI. Stock management, AI phone answering, and staff rotas are just the beginning of how AI could change the restaurant experience for owners and consumers, however. The next frontier is how the customer’s experience will change thanks to AI. When asked about the next stage of AI integration in the industry, 60% of executives cited the customer experience. The traditional model of walking in, reading a static menu, and ordering is being reimagined.
In the future, your dining experience could begin hours before you arrive, coordinated by a personal AI assistant that considers your health data, taste preferences, and schedule to suggest and even pre-order your meal. Upon arrival, the concept of a fixed menu might even be a thing of the past. If at the present time you need to choose from a set menu that is decided by the chef, in the future, the restaurant will adapt to you and cater to your needs.
It will use information and data learned from your personal digital profile. This will include past orders, and even the mood you are in at the time. The system will curate a unique set of meal options tailored just for you.
AI is already involved in the food business. You can already see in fast food chains AI-powered kiosks that offer you a personalized experience, with conversational, hands-free ordering at drive-thrus or on personal devices. While there have been hiccups, like Taco Bell’s recent experience with AI drive-thrus, the goal is to create a seamless, customized journey where the technology makes your life easier.
Human-AI Collaboration Elevates The Experience
You can’t turn on a TV, read an article, or listen to the radio these days without hearing someone say that AI is going to render humans obsolete. The consensus from all academic opinions is that the opposite is true, especially in the restaurant trade. AI is poised to free humans to focus on connection and creativity by removing, automating, and streamlining repetitive and logistical tasks – like answering phones, entering orders, managing inventory, and processing payments.
By embracing AI for simple tasks, restaurants can use their human staff to focus on the guests and provide them with the best possible experience. Chefs can spend more time innovating, servers can become storytellers and engagement experience, and the dining experience can be more bespoke, more intimate, thanks to the presence of AI. Human-AI collaboration creates a more dynamic and satisfying environment for both guests and staff.
Navigating The Future With Confidence
Despite the excitement, nerves, and anxiety, many people across the world feel underprepared for widespread AI adoption, citing challenges like identifying the right use cases, managing risks, and a lack of technical talent, acting as a roadblock to their businesses and lives being at a disadvantage in the coming revolution.
The transformation is going to be undeniable. The restaurant of the future could take a million forms: a combination of delivery and cloud kitchen, a VR dining room, or even a health-optimized nutritional hub. Every industry, as we know it is changing. Restaurants in the future will be intelligent, immersive, and connect with your life like never before.
With the global AI market surging and restaurant executives fully invested in its potential, the way we discover, order, and enjoy food is on the cusp of a change more profound than anyone could have imagined. The journey has already begun, and the menu for the future is being written in code.