CHIPOTLE’S CULTIVATE NEXT FUND INVESTS IN AI SUPPLY CHAIN SOLUTION AND EMERGING FAST-CASUAL CONCEPT Oct 15, 2024

The fundamental challenge is to adhere to the standardised process and protocols for food management at restaurants. While human-powered data discovery and analysis is time intensive, these same tasks can be accomplished in minutes using AI. The technology can rapidly surface data and identify and analyze patterns related to customer habits and preferences, track sales trends, forecast demand for ingredients, and identify operational bottlenecks. These types of actionable insights are valuable in helping restaurants improve operational efficiencies to reduce costs and enhance profitability. The Go Mobile restaurant model, for example, first introduced in 2021, eliminates indoor dining space to address drive-through bottlenecks.

Martin has five years of experience in marketing and is committed to helping local businesses grow their organic presence and expand their reach. Google is constantly updating, which can make search engine optimization feel like an uphill battle. However, staying customer-first and brand-aware will help you weather most major storms safely. With both of these considerations at the center of your marketing plan, adapting to suit the changes at Google will be much easier and will ensure you’re always appearing in front of the right people. Cost remains another major barrier, as the pricing of robotic solutions often remains unrealistic, and the unit economics may not be sustainable, making it difficult for operators to justify the investment. That’s where companies like Kitchen Robotics come in – the company stands out as one of the few companies to have successfully commercialized a product.

Founded in 2018, Valyant AI has focused its efforts on developing and deploying voice AI technology specifically for the drive-thru environment. Its primary offering, an AI voice assistant named Holly, integrates with existing drive-thru communication systems from established manufacturers like PAR and HME. Furthermore, Holly interfaces with a range of POS systems, including those from Brink, Xenial, NCR, Aloha, and Oracle Microsystems. This focus on integration with existing infrastructure highlights Valyant AI’s approach of providing readily deployable solutions for QSR brands. The company has secured contracts with notable brands such as CKE and Checkers, indicating a level of market acceptance for its technology. Beyond its supply chain focus, Chipotle is also exploring other avenues for innovation.

Led by 645 Ventures, with participation from existing investors Alpha Wave Global and Peak XV and first-time investors, Soma Capital, FJ Labs, Taurus Ventures and Correlation Ventures, the investment brings the company’s capital to $17 million. AI-powered benchmarking for competitive pricing and operations 

Many restaurant operators lack the time to benchmark or compare their ChatGPT App performance against their peers. AI-powered tools can provide next-level benchmarking insights, allowing operators to quickly compare their performance with eateries in their area and understand local market dynamics across menu items and operational metrics. LumachainHeadquartered in Sydney, Australia, Lumachain’s mission is to improve how food is produced, for good.

And Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, and others use AI drive-through tech that an SEC filing revealed was underpinned by remote human workers in the Philippines most of the time. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the subject of well-deserved hype for its potential to disrupt operations in virtually every industry. However, you need to cut through the hype to determine where AI will deliver value. In the restaurant industry, several use cases are emerging as candidates for practical AI applications that result in more efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction. Zarkov explains that the motivation behind using AI and deepfake technology is multifaceted.

Donald Trump will make a $400,000 salary as president. His shares in Trump Media could keep him rich to the tune of $8 billion

Fast food giant pulls plug on AI-powered voice-ordering at about 100 outlets after viral videos of order mishaps. A few days ago, the concept of Ethos took X by storm when a user Justine Moore shared her thoughts on the AI aspects of the restaurant, theorising that it could be a passion project. Later, she added an update showing an AI-generated image of her dining at Ethos and detailing all the courses she was ‘served’.

Past – Analyse the past data such as customer preferences for specific food category, seasonal performance, volume of customers incoming / ordering on festive days, long weekends or during national events such as sports, politics, etc. It also has a website with information regarding its philosophy and menus, which seem sarcastically generic. The description includes trending buzzwords about local ingredients, ethical sourcing, sustainability, inclusivity, nourishment, etc., which one feels have been used too many times before. There’s a dialogue box that allows you to ‘contact’ the 24/7 General Manager Giuseppe Fusilli. Brian Owens, co-owner of the New York restaurant Crave Fishbar, with three locations in the city, and the newly opened Crave Sushi Bar, believed in an AI future, but not for long. In 2021, operating “as lean as possible” when reopening after the pandemic, Owens tried Slang, which was brought to his attention by his account manager at OpenTable.

• Cost remains another major barrier, as the pricing of robotic solutions often remains unrealistic, and the unit economics may not be sustainable, making it difficult for operators to justify the investment.
• Networking is also crucial; I connect with industry professionals at conferences and meetups, which allows me to exchange ideas and gain fresh perspectives.
• This approach significantly reduces delays, minimizes guest frustration, and decreases the need for staff intervention.
• The company told media outlets that they had been conducting “tests” with AI tools and were taking steps to remove the bogus images.
• In a dark, round dining room, diners sit at a 20-seat circular table surrounded by curved walls that serve as projection screens.

VoiceBite’s advanced AI technology enables restaurants to automate phone and drive-thru ordering, providing a natural and engaging customer experience. Open Tender’s platform serves as the foundation for Checkmate’s highly customizable kiosk solution, allowing restaurants to offer a seamless and branded self-service ordering experience. Modern POS systems also enhance the dining experience by connecting with online ordering platforms, reservation systems and inventory management tools.

Presto Voice with Pure AI takes automation to the next level by offering a fully autonomous Voice AI ordering experience. This cutting-edge solution operates independently during the initial order process, only transferring control to human staff when encountering complex orders. This approach significantly reduces delays, minimizes guest frustration, and decreases the need for staff intervention. As the system learns from more complete AI sessions, it continuously improves, leading to a more consistent and efficient ordering experience over time. “We see tremendous opportunity in advancing our restaurant technology and will continue to evaluate long-term, scalable solutions that will help us make an informed decision on a future voice ordering solution by the end of the year,” the Chicago-based company said. In my opinion, adoption of AI will have major contribution to larger hoteliers working on franchise model and it will be very effective in inventory management.

Advanced AI solutions can now accurately understand and process customer orders through voice recognition, seamlessly integrating with the restaurant’s point of sale (POS) or kitchen display system (KDS). Granted, each restaurant must train and retrain the AI model to recognize its menu items accurately. However, systems can escalate to an employee if orders are unclear to ensure customers get exactly what they want. Asher explained that although restaurants have recovered to a great degree from a critical labor shortage that began in 2020, they still face challenges in hiring and retaining employees. Now, the focus is on maximizing labor and reallocating workers to hospitality-focused activities rather than on mundane tasks. Restaurants can implement AI-driven voice ordering to handle the drive-thru, allowing them to make the best use of labor.

Austin’s weirdest restaurant doesn’t exist

For quick-serve restaurants (QSR), understanding and monitoring these shifts in consumer sentiment in different demographics is key to meeting the expectations of a diverse customer base. While 33 percent of respondents aged reported “not liking the idea of it,” a substantial 54 percent of respondents 45 and above didn’t like the idea of it. Such information shows that younger consumers are more open to AI innovations, while older adults remain more skeptical.

His managerial journey unfolded at esteemed establishments such as Steak n Ale, TGI Friday’s, Sam Snead’s Tavern, and Chaya Brasserie in Beverly Hills, California. Chef Engledow ventured into entrepreneurship, creating and owning Five Loaves Pizza in Cypress, Texas. Today, he continues to play a pivotal role in consulting on numerous restaurant openings in Hollywood and Pacific Palisades, California. Beyond the restaurant, Engledow’s entrepreneurial spirit extends to the realm of family entertainment, where he spearheaded the construction of 15 70,000 square feet indoor go-kart facilities and trampoline parks throughout the eastern United States. But beyond this particular stunt, AI-generated food content has infected the culinary side of the internet in more troubling ways.

The company has already implemented RFID technology across its supply chain to automate inventory tracking and is working with Oracle to develop a “supplier visibility” project for comprehensive supply chain insights. The addition of Lumachain’s AI-powered platform further strengthens Chipotle’s ability to monitor and optimize its supply chain, potentially leading to reduced waste, improved food safety, and increased efficiency. The implementation of Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) is expected to bring several potential benefits to QSCC. AIP will connect disparate data sources, providing a unified view of QSCC’s operations and enabling data-driven decision-making across the organization. The platform’s AI capabilities will automate various tasks, such as inventory management, demand forecasting, and order fulfillment, potentially freeing up staff to focus on more strategic initiatives. By optimizing inventory levels, reducing waste, and streamlining logistics, QSCC aims to achieve significant cost savings and operational efficiencies.

This alliance delivers PolyAI’s lifelike voice AI to help restaurants tackle challenges around staffing and provide consistent hospitality, even off premise. In a survey conducted by the National Restaurant Association, 62% of operators said their restaurants did not have enough employees to support existing demand. With onsite staff focused on in-house patrons, restaurant groups routinely miss between 30-60% of phone calls to their front of house (per PolyAI customer data) – meaning missed revenue opportunities and equally valuable customer touch points. The restaurant industry is rapidly evolving, with artificial intelligence playing an increasingly significant role in enhancing operations, customer experience, and overall efficiency. From streamlining kitchen processes to personalizing customer interactions, AI tools are changing how restaurants function in today’s competitive market. To cater for this space, many start-ups have emerged offering innovative solutions to the industry including Foodsi, GreenBytes, Freshflow, Positive Carbon, among others worldwide.

Regularly gathering customer experience insights and analyzing customer feedback can help identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments. A closer look at the data shows that there are differences between demographics in terms of acceptance and preference for AI technology in everyday experiences. But disgruntled foodies in London are reminding us of the inherent dangers of relying on the scraping of user-generated content to provide what’s supposed to be factual, helpful information. Google will be pulling from every possible place to categorize searches and show users the best possible results for their queries.

For almost two years, its Beastro solution has been actively operating with corporate clients. If so, we invite you to review our editorial guidelines and submit your press release for publishing consideration. Restaurants are already becoming more technologically forward, from interactive QR code menus to tap-to-order kiosks to reservation apps like OpenTable. According to a study from Hospitality Technology, 78 percent of restaurant IT budgets will increase in 2024.

I spoke to him about what it’s like going from a scrappy startup to a public company, and what the AI-enabled restaurant of the future might look like. A number of other major restaurant chains, retailers and other companies have turned to Paradox’s AI hiring tech, including Applebee’s, McDonald’s, Panera Bread, Taco Bell and Wendy’s. The new technology is expected to reduce the amount of time it takes Chipotle to hire an employee for an in-restaurant position by as much 75%, Chipotle said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch. According to an official press release, Chipotle has made a minority investment in Lumachain and Brassica through its $100 million Cultivate Next fund. Launched in 2022, this venture fund aims to support companies that align with Chipotle’s mission of sustainability and growth, targeting the expansion to 7,000 locations across North America.

“I think AI still has a huge potential for addressing business,” said Van Overstraeten. We are constantly looking at how AI applications generally are performing in the industry, as well as other industries. You can foun additiona information about ai customer service and artificial intelligence and NLP. We’re keeping an eye on all kinds of use cases out there to understand if there’s anything ChatGPT that we might be able to uncover that we’re not already thinking about. As we reflect on what’s happening in the competitive space, I would say we feel more and more bullish on our approach with the technology that we’ve developed and also with the partner that we have in Google Cloud.

From Omnichannel POS Systems to AI-Powered Chatbots, Technology is the Future of the Restaurant Industry

Mai’s inclusivity is another key strength, with the platform adhering to section 508 accessibility compliance and catering to cognitive and dietary accessibility needs. This ensures a seamless and personalized experience for all customers, regardless of their specific requirements. Restaurants can quickly configure the platform to align with their brand voice and preferred customer journey. Notably, Slang.ai’s advanced AI can comprehend various accents and engage callers of all ages, ensuring a seamless and satisfying experience for every customer. The system’s ability to learn and evolve based on real customer interactions allows it to continuously refine its performance, suggesting new responses and adapting to the restaurant’s specific needs over time.

Bringing that to life at scale with data, I think, is something that’s very much possible. Co-founder and Managing Partner of 645 Ventures Nnamdi Okike is joining the board, bringing with him over a decade of experience investing in vertical SaaS, including notable companies like Squire, LeagueApps and Lunchbox. To guard against the misuse of AI in hiring, New York City in 2021 passed a law that requires companies that use the technology to disclose its use to job candidates. Employers are also required to conduct annual third-party “bias audits” of their automated hiring systems to ensure the technology isn’t discriminating against certain types of candidates. This information is intended for informational purposes only, and not as a binding commitment. Some, but not all of the AI concepts discussed in this article are currently offered by Toast to customers.

Serving a diverse clientele including restaurants of all sizes, caterers, dining management companies, and even bookkeepers and accountants, xtraCHEF offers a user-friendly interface coupled with powerful features. This combination allows businesses to streamline their operations, reduce costs, and maximize margins effectively. By automating time-consuming tasks and providing real-time insights, xtraCHEF enables restaurant professionals to focus more on delivering exceptional dining experiences and less on manual administrative work.

You can see why this would be an appealing idea if you live in a big, tourism-heavy city. Every single time you find a new authentic local place to call your own, it’s inevitable that a flood of Instagram-laced influencers and obnoxious tourists will swoop in to make the whole experience substantially less enjoyable. We wish you the best in your attempt to juke the algorithm, misdirect the riff-raff, and reclaim your city.

Klinger added that AI can also enhance guest experiences by allowing customers to order in their native language, increasing order accuracy and customer satisfaction. Language translation also allows non-native-speaking employees to perform their jobs better enabling them to interact with the POS system, KDS, or other technology in their preferred language. In today’s bustling restaurant industry, where every detail matters, technology has become an indispensable tool – especially in hiring and staffing. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed the recruitment process, offering a new level of efficiency and automation.

Setting yourself up on just one digital platform could negatively impact your presence in search engine results. Ensuring your information is updated and your brand is communicated on every relevant channel is the key to a winning digital strategy. With party and date night planning coming soon, optimizing your site for the way people organize their events is going to be key. For example, people planning bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthday parties, and anniversaries will all have different needs, and being clear about your restaurant offerings and using specific keywords will help your business appear for these searches. Sixty-two percent of consumers find new restaurants through Google, making it the most popular method of discovering new food. As Google search results shift, restaurateurs need to prepare their websites to capture the searches.

Zomato Bans Use Of AI Generated Images By Restaurant Partners

Checkmate has already established a strong foundation in integrating digital orders into restaurant point-of-sale (POS) systems, working with some of the country’s largest brands to streamline their online ordering operations. This expertise will be crucial as Checkmate expands its reach to serve mid-market and enterprise brands. While the future of new technology is promising and solidified in the industry, it’s crucial to remember the timeless elements that keep customers coming back.

This investment comes at a pivotal moment for the company, as it seeks to capitalize on the growing demand for digital ordering solutions and solidify its position as a one-stop shop for restaurant technology. It wasn’t long ago that AI struggled to reliably produce food that stirred our appetites at all, more often generating freakish and off-putting fare. Yet in an academic paper published by the journal Food Quality and Preference earlier this year, researchers found that AI models tended to make food “appear somewhat glossier and with warmer and more uniform lighting,” enhancing its appeal. In fact, participants in the study rated AI-generated images as “more appetizing than real photos” when not informed of which images were fake and which were authentic. ConverseNow, with its existing portfolio of voice AI solutions, aims to integrate Valyant AI’s technology and team into its operations.

Searching “create a 3 day meal plan for a group that’s easy to prepare,” will present you with multiple recipes that can be rearranged and switched out to suit your tastes. Plans include using the system for marketing and forecasting with an emphasis on guest needs and privacy. “This platform has the power to change the way we work,” said Frank Bordoni, Commercial Director at Alshaya Group, Le Pain Quotidien franchise operator United Arab Emirates. “As with anything, familiarity is key. You don’t have to be an IT nerd or be particularly good with a computer. Whether you are doing culinary operations, front-of-house operations or brand operations, this is a great tool and a game changer.”. In total, the system consists of an inventory of 10,000 recipes, and can interpret various languages, units of measurement and local kitchen equipment.

To detect and prevent fraud, machine learning and AI algorithms continuously monitor and analyze massive amounts of transaction data in real time. These algorithms work to identify suspicious activities and anomalies in transaction data and flag and block potentially fraudulent transactions at their start. For now, the AI host is best viewed as a diligent “team member,” Sambvani says, with more sophisticated, detailed interactions to be rolled out soon. On September 12, the company announced an OpenTable integration, which includes the option to book a reservation on OpenTable, by phone, through the AI voice agent. While I have been to London, I have never been to Angus Steakhouse, so I can’t speak to the quality of the food. It appears to have close to half a dozen locations around London and, while it’s an authentic local location, apparently some locals don’t really consider it a top-notch dining spot.

While our primary focus is on the back-of-house (BOH)—from food preparation to cleaning—we foresee that labor shortages and rising minimum wages will continue to challenge the industry. Restaurants need to remain profitable, and lowering food quality is not a viable solution. As costs rise across various areas of the business, the long-term answer lies in incorporating technology, both in BOH and front-of-house (FOH). This includes automation, digitization, and data-driven optimization, all of which are already starting to shape the future of the industry. Encounter AI’s “Mai” is a sophisticated artificial intelligence assistant tailored for the restaurant and retail sectors. This cloud-based solution is designed to enhance accuracy, service, and speed by responding instantly to customers through various channels, including drive-thru, kiosk, and at-table tablets.

Bloomberg reported that the deal was partly for a chatbot named “Ask Pickles” that employees could use for guidance on things like cleaning ice cream machines. Even so, Google partnered with Wendy’s, which started testing drive-thru AI based on its tech last year and has since expanded that trial. Szot said restaurants are finding that their customers are more comfortable with facial recognition.

To make compliance as simple, streamlined, and intuitive as possible, restaurants should make the most of advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), which is quickly becoming an industry standard. AI-powered workforce management (WFM), when used to enable the intelligent automation of compliance, can help restaurants remain compliant while saving valuable time and optimizing resources. AI technology is transforming the restaurant industry, providing tools that prevent and detect fraud, surface actionable data and insights, optimize credit card processing, enhance staffing and scheduling, create content, and more. The right AI tools can transform restaurant operations, unlocking operational efficiencies and cost savings that can drive growth and profitability. Overstaffing increases labor costs while understaffing can negatively impact customer experience. By analyzing historical sales data, AI can predict customer volumes and optimize shift allocations for adequate staffing.

• After AI assistance, it’s imperative to customize the content to reflect the restaurant’s distinct culture, values, and perks.
• In the second phase, the brand plans to incorporate world trends in F&B into the database to create recipes that reflect global trends.
• Van Overstraeten said Alain.AI was created initially to aid in the brand’s development in F&B by compiling historic and current recipes into a closed database, allowing the team to develop new recipes more efficiently.
• From managing busy dining rooms to reducing food waste, AI-powered systems can handle a wide range of restaurant operations with increased accuracy and efficiency.

It was an Instagram account with the handle @ethos_atx, which purported to represent an upscale restaurant called Ethos in Austin, Texas. But, as Moore noted, no such business exists — despite the account’s tens of thousands of followers and blue verification checkmark. Building strong partnerships across teams fosters innovation and enables us to tackle complex challenges more effectively. Above all, stay passionate about what you do, and let your enthusiasm drive you towards excellence.

Labor compliance only forms one part of a restaurant’s overall labor strategy, which plays a pivotal role in business operations, employee experience, and customer satisfaction. One of VOICEplug AI’s key strengths is its ability to handle natural language ordering, allowing customers to place orders using conversational language across multiple channels. This creates a more intuitive and user-friendly ordering experience, regardless of whether the customer is using a phone, web interface, mobile app, drive-thru, or kiosk system. Additionally, the platform’s 24/7 availability ensures that customer inquiries and orders are managed round the clock, minimizing missed opportunities and enhancing overall customer service. One of Mai’s standout features is its ability to learn and improve continuously through conversational AI and machine learning. This enables the system to refine its understanding of menu items, ordering preferences, and customer interactions over time.

Brown Bacon AI is the founding leader of AI food & beverage pairing solutions for B2C hospitality & food services with their patent pending SomAI co-created by co-founder and sommelier Aimee Arnold. James Roedding, head of product and data science at Rewards Network, told PYMNTS that the age of digital engagement is changing the restaurant experience — and can transform restaurant chatbot the ways in which the restaurants operate while improving their margins and customer loyalty. Since joining Givex in 2007, Mo Chaar has helped the company expand its North American footprint. He began his tenure as a Business DevelopmentManager before becoming Vice President of Sales for North America, and then moved to his current role of Chief Commercial Officer.