The future of dining is looking a lot more like a sci-fi movie, and honestly? We’re here for it, so long as we don’t lose sight of the human touches—think recipe invention, taste and care.
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics in the U.S. restaurant industry is shaking up the food scene, making service faster, smarter and maybe even cooler. Restaurants are dealing with labor shortages and rising costs, and tech is swooping in to save the day—one robot at a time.
Case in point is also one of the hottest trends: AI-powered customer service. Chatbots, like the ones used by Domino’s, are basically your new pizza BFFs, helping you place orders, track deliveries and even vent about your missing extra sauce (we’ve all been there). These bots work 24/7, giving human employees more time to focus on things that require, well, actual human skills. Meanwhile, McDonald's self-service kiosks use machine learning to personalize menu suggestions—so if you always get fries with that, they’ll know.
AI is also getting deep into data, tracking customer behavior like a digital Sherlock Holmes. Starbucks’ Deep Brew AI remembers your go-to latte and recommends menu items based on your past orders (finally, a system that gets you). Over at Chipotle, AI helps monitor ingredient freshness, cutting down food waste and increasing sustainability. This environmental aspect of AI can help restaurants decrease their purchasing expenses while appealing to those of us for whom saving the planet is not only a vibe, but a priority.
And what about robots in the kitchen? Ever heard of Flippy, CaliBurger’s burger-flipping robot? This high-tech chef grills and flips burgers with scary-good precision and speed while still ensuring the perfect sear every time. National brands like McDonald’s, Jack in the Box, White Castle and Sweeetgreen are testing kitchen robotics and automation. Surya Tiffins in Naperville, IL has been completely automated since it opened in 2021, run by Nala Robotics, developers of fully automated restaurant kitchen technology. In New York City, Chipotle founder Steve Ellis has opened Kernel, which is, according to their website, making the future happen by embodying “the craft of traditional cooking enabled by the technology of the future.”
Of course, not everyone is thrilled about this tech takeover, especially those who work in restaurants. While companies like Miso Robotics insist that AI is here to assist, not replace, human workers, the reality remains that jobs centered around assembly-line-like tasks are at risk, prompting questions about the balance between job creation and displacement within the industry. As AI continues to evolve in all industries, so does the skill set required to thrive alongside it. A recent survey revealed that 74 percent of workers are willing to learn new skills or re-train to remain employable, so it seems that embracing the transformative power of AI to upskill and reskill a workforce could be the glittery answer to a sobering issue.
Looking ahead, the restaurant-tech mashup is only going to get crazier. According to Square’s 2025 Future of Restaurants Report, more than half (54 percent) of restaurant owners plan to increase their spending on technology and automation tools in the next 12 months compared to their spend in the last year. We’re talking AI voice assistants in drive-thrus, robotic waiters serving up your tacos, and even drone-powered food deliveries that bring your order straight to your door. The key? Keeping that perfect balance between automation and human interaction—because no matter how cool robots get, nothing beats a friendly smile when your food arrives.
So, next time you grab a bite, keep an eye out—you might just be dining alongside the future of food service.