Is Your Restaurant AI the Real Deal? Here Are Five Questions to Ask Vendors

The restaurant industry is undergoing a technology renaissance. Everywhere you care to look, AI and automation can be found taking on critical roles and supporting restaurants, bars, cafes, and coffee shops still battling against labor shortages and rising inflation. 

Robots are helping with food prep and even serving dine-in customers. Data-driven analytics tools are allowing restaurants to optimize pricing and personalize menu options. ChatGPT-style technology is writing food descriptions and generating meal imagery. Voice AI is taking orders over the phone, at the drive thru, and at kiosks to help reduce customer wait times and drive more sales. 

It’s unsurprising that even restaurant executives that have been historically cautious of fleeting tech trends are now looking into AI more seriously. But – as with any burgeoning movement – AI also gets served up with a large side of hype. It can be difficult to navigate the fast-growing field of restaurant tech in a way that…