Artificial Intelligence in the Food Industry: 9 Ways Artificial Intelligence is Changing the Food Industry

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the technologies that has been in the news all over the world recently. The recent unveiling of the latest version of ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot, has sparked a wave of public opinion about the future of AI and the future of work in industries from coding to marketing. But what do artificial intelligence tools mean for the restaurant and food industry? How is artificial intelligence going to change the food industry? After all, a chatbot can’t go into the kitchen and make sushi! So how is this done? The growing functionality of AI tools may impact the lives of chefs and other food industry professionals today and in the near future! Join us as we explore how AI will impact the food and beverage industry.

How will artificial intelligence change restaurants?

When we talk about the use of artificial intelligence in restaurants, we usually don’t mean artificial intelligence-powered robots or massive automation. Most restaurants do not have a large production requirement that requires mechanized interventions. It is much more likely that artificial intelligence will be used to simplify some of the routine tasks and day-to-day operations of a restaurant, as well as improve restaurant marketing. In the following, we discuss some of the improvements that we see due to this new technology.

1. Provide personalized menu recommendations for guests and customers

Artificial intelligence can power analytics tools that serve customers based on their past behavior and personal preferences. For example, AI-powered engines can evaluate previous customer orders and reviews, determine days when customers are most likely to order, and select events they might be interested in. For example, if a customer has only ordered vegetarian food, AI can infer that the customer is on a vegetarian diet and can provide recommendations that are relevant to their diet.

Dynamic Yield (formerly owned by McDonald’s) offers this service with a self-learning model that can analyze data and predict potential future sales.

AI-powered ordering platforms, both on-site and for delivery/takeout, can provide personalized recommendations based on customer preferences.

2. Predictive analytics for more informed forecasting

Using predictive analytics, AI can analyze sales data, weather patterns, and local events to estimate future sales. This can help take the guesswork out of forecasting; So chefs can create more accurate staffing schedules, estimate their inventory needs, and improve their long-term financial outlook.

3. Using chatbots to answer questions, take orders and set up customer reservations

Chatbots equipped with artificial intelligence can simplify restaurant reservation and order registration processes on restaurant reservation platforms. How can a customer have an easy “conversation” with an AI chatbot instead of going through a complex user interface of checkboxes and customizations on an online ordering platform? The bot can ask a customer all the questions a restaurant would want to ask, such as “Would you like fries with that?” For example, Domino’s Pizza uses a chatbot on Facebook Messenger to take orders and provide order updates.

Chatbots may also help guests find a convenient reservation time for their party and answer questions such as “Is there parking nearby?”.

Until now, chatbots have been fairly limited, responding with predefined responses provided by the restaurant. With the recent release of ChatGPT, expect chatbot performance to improve greatly in the near future!

Artificial intelligence according to statistics

Artificial intelligence is expected to create 12 million more jobs than it will eliminate in the next few years.

You’re probably using AI right now, too: 97% of mobile users use voice assistants like Siri and OK Google.

ChatGPT is breaking records: the AI-powered chatbot had more than 100 million users in February 2023, just three months after its last launch.

Do not remove the operator’s phone call option. 60% of customers still prefer to wait to speak with a live agent rather than immediately get help from a chatbot.

4. Improving cost tracking and menu pricing

Calculating the cost of each order has always been a laborious process that required spreadsheets and formulas. Because ingredient costs can fluctuate, these spreadsheets should be updated frequently.

Artificial intelligence applications can make this process faster and easier. For example, xtraCHEF’s AI software can easily calculate the cost of each meal and automatically update these costs based on scanned invoices from suppliers. It can also factor in unique labor costs for dishes that are more time-consuming, rather than applying the same labor percentage to the entire menu.

This application of artificial intelligence in the food industry can instantly tell chefs the cost of each menu item, so chefs can see at a glance if their profit margins are slipping.

The time-consuming process of restaurant inventory can be accelerated with artificial intelligence tools.

5. Inventory and purchase integrated with artificial intelligence to save time

Inventory and shopping are two things that can take up a lot of time in the kitchen. What can a cook or chef do if they save some of their time?

Inventory tools integrated with artificial intelligence can track inventory levels in real-time and automatically create purchase orders when numbers are low. These tools can also analyze vendor performance and pricing so chefs can decide whether to keep an ingredient supplier or try a new one. By using this tool, restaurants may be able to reduce costs and streamline their inventory management process.

For example, SynergySuite restaurant management software uses AI-based analytics to predict demand and optimize inventory levels for demand.

6. Robotic food delivery

In major cities around the world, you may have seen a small self-driving car zipping around the sidewalk. This self-driving vehicle is used to deliver food from restaurants and supermarkets to consumers. Food delivery robots are controlled by artificial intelligence that can learn routes and assess obstacles in their way. While this hasn’t happened on a large scale yet, we don’t know what the future holds. These self-driving vehicles can help reduce the cost of third-party delivery services, as there is no longer a need to pay a human driver.

And beyond the restaurant industry, this technology could have very important positive implications for the elderly or people with disabilities who find it difficult to do things. A service that can provide food or medicine at low cost and make life much easier for those who have difficulty leaving their homes.

AI-powered delivery vehicles can deliver food and groceries to people at their homes without a driver or delivery person.

How can artificial intelligence improve the food supply chain and food production?

Artificial intelligence in the food industry is not limited to restaurants. The entire supply chain, from agriculture to distribution, can make significant improvements with AI tools!

7. More efficient food production

Many parts of the food supply chain are now automated, with robotic components completing repetitive tasks such as food sorting and packaging. These machines can be sterilized for added cleanliness and can operate 24/7 (minus some maintenance time).

Although these machines are already efficient, adding artificial intelligence could help them do more, such as assess the quality of a product.

Adding artificial intelligence can make these processes faster and safer. Artificial intelligence can guide robotic components to react to changes or troubleshoot problems before they disrupt the entire manufacturing process.

8. Creating a stronger and safer supply chain

Scientific research centers have been researching nutrition and population growth for centuries. At the recently established AI Institute for Next Generation Food Systems, scientists and researchers from America’s top five universities are using artificial intelligence. The institute uses artificial intelligence learning to develop better food production, from breeding plants for higher yields to better farming methods to more efficient processing and distribution.

One of their current projects is using artificial intelligence to predict food safety risks at the end of the supply chain. A project like this one could warn consumers about possible contamination before they get sick from eating a food.

Artificial intelligence tools can make food production safer.

9. Predicting consumer reaction to new products

Food manufacturers considering a new product or a new version of an existing product usually need to conduct extensive market research and consumer surveys to identify trends and assess taste. What if this process could be automated with artificial intelligence?

Gastrograph’s AI platform collects data about products and consumer preferences in specific markets. It then recommends product changes and predicts how the target consumer will respond to them. By using a tool like the Gstrograph platform, manufacturers may be able to reduce time to market and create more successful products for specific demographics.

Artificial intelligence: a useful tool for the food industry

Artificial intelligence is still in its infancy. We are a long way from robots and AI machines that can think or behave like a human. In fact, this development may be very far-fetched or even never happen.

If AI in the food industry can help chefs spend less time on menu inventory, ordering, and pricing, they may be able to spend more time creating recipes and preparing food, doing things that really matter. they love!

We hope that this article from Avir artificial intelligence company has helped you to understand more about the applications of artificial intelligence in the food industry. If you are also active in this industry and are looking to keep pace with the world’s latest technology, contact Avir right now.

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