Artificial intelligence seems to be everywhere these days, from flashy tech startups to healthcare giants. The world of food is certainly no exception. From the art of making cocktails to developing cookie recipes, AI has made headlines for its use in the kitchen. Soon, it might even become the kitchen for your favorite dinner. That's right, restaurants across the U.S. are rolling out automated programs that can do everything from preparing food to taking orders.
In many cases, restaurants use AI-powered tools to improve behind-the-scenes business processes such as logistics, inventory, and staffing. However, with the development of artificial intelligence, it began to find more and more use in daily operations. Some companies are creating robotic hardware to automate the cooking process, while others are focusing on software that processes orders. Companies are trying to build restaurant models from the ground up, maximizing technology and minimizing traditional labor.
In fact, most AI-operated kitchens work through robots, voice technology, and often with the assistance of a human person.
Sweetgreen, a fast-food restaurant that specializes in quick salads, is a restaurant that is almost entirely robot-driven. The SweetGreen system utilizes robots to add salad toppings to bowls as they move along a conveyor belt, add garnishes to finished dishes, and be present to greet guests and help them place their orders. Sweetgreen operates two in Illinois and California, with plans to eventually implement them into each chain.