By Maya Belle
Just like the rest of the world, the restaurant industry is starting to use Artificial Intelligence and computer programs to manage their operations. While chalkboard menus and sit-down restaurants still very much exist, we must read the writing on the wall and acknowledge the technological developments already taking place in modern restaurants, and we should also remember the implications.
A new innovation already taking place is digital ordering; it is now extremely easy to order online, on websites, apps, and even devices like Amazon Alexa, where you simply ask to order something from your nearest restaurant to be delivered to your door. To add on to online ordering, restaurants are even starting to provide virtual assistants to give their customers service.
In fact, the trend of robots working in restaurants is even progressing to in-person orders, with some restaurants starting to use robots to deliver and handle food, and speed up the food preparation process. However, this approach could slow things down as well, as robots may not fully be able to deliver food carefully. AI can also be used in self-serve situations, and many fast food restaurants, such as McDonald’s, have implemented self-serve kiosks to make orders more efficient and to increase precision and customisability.
AI can also help in the management of restaurants. One such use is for scheduling; AI would make it easier for restaurants to plan out work schedules, plan events, and even keep track of inventory. While paper and pencil may work, it would be much more difficult to keep everything written down and organized than simply using a computer program.
As with AI being used for inventory tracking, it can even help manage food waste! Wasted food is money down the drain for restaurants, so if they have the ability to save food and make sure they don’t buy too much, it can be extremely financially helpful to small restaurants.
While AI and robots are certainly a useful tool, they have their downsides. As mentioned before, robots being used to increase hospitality can actually be inefficient for both customers and staff. They may block customers, spill food and not be able to transport large orders; people may simply not feel comfortable with a robot being their server, and may prefer a human host.
As with self-serve options, people may prefer hospitality over having to choose their own orders and serve their own food, such as drinks.
Issues with AI even involve finance; developing new AI and robots is extremely costly, and not all small businesses will be able to afford new robots and expenses for when they need to be fixed. Something to be remembered is that robots are not humans, and they will not adapt to a restaurant environment without manual updates.
And perhaps the most daunting and popular issue with AI and robotic workers is their tendency to get rid of human jobs. If traditionally low-wage jobs, such as servers or cooks, were to be replaced with robots, job losses would be severe. The quickly accelerating automation of minimum wage jobs is destroying work for many; a balance must be found between convenience and human workers.
All in all, while AI and robotics is still an extremely new field of study, we must see the writing on the wall and try to find a balance between old and new practices in an increasingly digital world.
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