4 Ways Restaurants Can Add AI To Their Operations

The technology can help employees improve customer satisfaction, cook food to a brand’s standards and accurately refill inventory, executives say.

AI is arguably the hottest technology in the restaurant space, with many operators exploring applications to ease pressure from inflation and rising labor, food, and occupancy costs.

“The whole use of AI at restaurants is accelerating,” said Brandon Barton, CEO of Bite, which makes AI-powered food-ordering kiosks.

Many executives think the hype around AI is warranted. White Castle Vice President Jamie Richardson, for example, said the technology holds “unlimited” potential to improve operations, as well as employee and guest experience.

But adopting AI requires “patience and perseverance — and a focus on remembering the larger goal you are trying to achieve,” he wrote in an email. That’s been White Castle’s experience with its Julia system, which communicates with drive-thru customers through SoundHound’s voice recognition software.