In the Age of Sushi Robots

Last month I went out to dinner at a newer sushi restaurant in my area. Like many other places, the ordering was electronic. Food was delivered to the table mechanically and also via a robot. This cheerful little robot played upbeat music and also brought non-alcoholic drinks to the table. It was as if Rosie the Robot had a grandson- that would be our robot waiter. All of the diners seemed amused or ambivalent to our digital companion. I inadvertently perked up anytime the boombox on wheels passed by.

However, we are already moving past the novelty stage. From ramen  vending machines to the Alpha Grill  that can cook 200 hamburgers an hour plus is self-cleaning. Regular innovation has been augmented by the massive shortage in restaurant labor. ( Why there is a human labor shortage is a completely different blog post and I will not climb on that soap box today.) Technology is seen as both a potential revenue booster and like in other areas it is deployed- a move toward greater efficiency. 

Just like in other verticals of AI application, the tech is having hiccups. Machines break down. Robots get confused. So much of AI and  machine learning troubleshooting comes post-rollout. Just look at Google’s current predicament. But bugs are not going to significantly stall implementation of advanced tech into the restaurant industry. Just like machinery and then AI have been adopted in the agriculture sector, it will be more widespread in every aspect of the food space. ( Climbing back on my soap box, this will increase the disparity between investor led dining operations and mom & pop shops just like Big Ag has been able to adopt greater technology than small farms. The equality gap will continue to grow.) But getting back to robots…

Axios Jennifer Kingson summarizes, “Robot cooks and servers are showy baubles that may mask where restaurant technology is making the biggest impact: in back-end systems…AI-driven marketing and social media systems are helping restaurants reel in customers — and bring back regulars — with targeted promotional offers for people's favorite dishes and other specials.” Just like many of us curse every time there is a QR code menu, a majority of diners still crave the social aspect of restaurants- and that includes interacting with servers and bartenders. In a world that is more and more antisocial, mediums of connection are valuable.

How does this apply to your small business or nonprofit? Don’t get distracted by the flashy robots, conspiracy claims from many points of view, or the rush to be the first to try something. There is data to show how utilizing AI can significantly help with communications, marketing, and shortening research time. Human empathy and inquisitiveness are still incredibly vital in keeping the heart of your mission in place. Critical reasoning is more important now than ever. As AI continues to evolve and be implemented in creative and less creative ways, leadership teams need to stay abreast of the implications of use in your space. 

At the Orange Peel Collaborative we are not AI purists. We will always advocate for staying informed and for the smart infusion of advanced tech into projects that make sense. We do believe in empowered, educated teams and giving those teams the ability to play and adapt to changing technologies. There is so much future to be a part of. For me, I prefer sitting at a sushi bar and learning the freshest fish of the day from our chef. 

Image courtesy of www.freepik.com