How AI can shape future of dining in UAE

In Dubai, diners have grown used to their meals arriving with a dash of theatre. Dubai hosts a range of locations where you can enjoy an enhanced culinary experience, from desserts revealed in clouds of liquid nitrogen, to skyline views that compete with the plate for attention. Right now, a new act is taking the stage, and perhaps unsurprisingly so: artificial intelligence and robotics, not hidden away in the kitchen, but part of the dining experience.

- BY CHRIS REDMOND

Across the globe, restaurants are experimenting with a progressive mix of Al-driven efficiency and the kind of immersive design that aim to deliver elevated and differentiated experiences. The aim is not to replace the chef's craft or the maître d's warmth, but to reshape and push the envelope when it comes to what the experience of dining out is, and the efficiencies of the business model behind the scenes.

FROM TOKYO SUSHI BELTS TO CALIFORNIA COBOTS

In Japan, conveyor-belt sushi has long been a staple. But chains like Kura Sushi have gone further. There a diner can experience robots deliver drinks orders directly to the table, while behind the scenes AI tracks workflow patterns within the venue to streamline kitchen workflow.

In the US, salad chain Sweetgreen has opened its first "Infinite Kitchen" location in Illinois, where robotic assembly lines build custom bowls with uncanny precision. This brings both speed and more consistency.

Meanwhile, Chipotle is piloting an avocado-prepping cobot, nicknamed Autocado, and a "makeline" automation system that assembles burrito bowls, freeing staff to focus more on guest interaction.

And in Singapore and Los Angeles, sleek autonomous servers like BellaBot glide between tables, weaving around guests with trays of steaming dishes, while their touchscreens offer a cheerful greeting or even a playful animation.