Eating smarter with AI and AR

When we think of augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI), mouth-watering food isn’t usually the first thing that springs to mind. 

But it could be: food brands are increasingly integrating tech to enhance everything from production and distribution, to service and taste.

According to one study by Gartner, 63% of marketing leaders plan to invest in generative AI over the next two years – and new use cases are being developed all the time. And with a projected value of USD $50 billion in 2024, the AR market is also growing fast. Up to 75% of people aged 16-44 are now aware of AR and the benefits it could bring to their lives. 

In an era where time is arguably one of the hottest commodities – one we always feel short on – convenience is key. And these technologies can make our F&B experiences more convenient than ever before; without compromising on taste and enjoyment. 

Clever carts

Convenience and efficiency are a new way of life. Tech companies are constantly innovating and crafting novel ways to give us more time – and we can access innovation from the palm of our hand. 

In 2016, US-based firm Caper AI introduced ‘Caper Carts’. They’re traditional-looking shopping carts that are transforming the in-store grocery shopping experience. Each cart comes kitted with an interactive screen that syncs up to the shoppers account and shopping list. 

These smart carts offer shoppers a scan-less experience by adding items to their cart which are added up automatically. The interface also shows shoppers deals and promotions on products and, based on previous purchases, and tailors recommendations shoppers might want to restock. And instead of waiting in line to pay, customers are able to head straight for the exit. 

By introducing AI, supermarkets have been able to reduce headcount costs and the time customers spend in stores. 

But the longer customer’s spend shopping, the more they spend – right?

Nope. Caper found that with the help of AI, customers were better able to find products and take advantage of promotions. As a result, shoppers increased their basket size by an average of 18%. 

Changing the way we cook

Once home with the grocery shopping, we’re also seeing technology revolutionise the way we experience cooking and reduce waste. Cookbooks and cooking shows that you have to pause and rewind every time you miss a detail could soon be replaced by tech-enabled cooking support.

We love:

• AR cooking glasses – created through a partnership between semiconductor giant Qualcomm and food tech platform Kittch. Users can immerse themselves in cooking classes with professional chefs while they cook along in real time, and take advantage of helpful cooking tools to set timers and order ingredients. Brian Bedol (CEO at Kittch) told IOT World Today that the aim is to turn home cooking from a “chore to a delightful experience.”
  
• Florida-based start up Magic Leap was one of the first AR competitors on the F&B scene, receiving investment from the likes of Google and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). 
  
• Dubai-based Syrve is helping reduce food waste in restaurants. Their all-in-one system uses AI to help order stock with more accuracy, in line with constantly updated customer preferences. 

These are just a few of many examples to illustrate that combined, the use of AR and AI gives home cooks and restaurants the opportunity to improve their home-cooking skills and experience cooking and eating new foods. And for businesses, there's an opportunity to reduce critical food waste, and increase profit margins.

Upgrading dining experiences

It’s not just people at home reaping the benefits of AI and AR. Restaurants have been taking advantage of these tech innovations for a while, helping amplify their diners' experiences. 

The days of browsing a menu and hoping what arrives lives up to your expectations could soon be confined to history. Using AR capabilities, restaurants can offer diners the chance to have a sneak peek of plates as they browse menus. 

We eat with our eyes – and restaurants are using AR to entice diners to order. Bareburger, which has chains in the US and Dubai, is leveraging tech from AR start-up Kabaq to transform their menus to AR only. 

There are many other possibilities for integrating AI and AI into restaurant operations; from sharing messages from chefs and embedding ethos and culture throughout the experience, to giving diners the social experience of eating together even when they’re physically apart.

And restaurants can improve transparency and minimise waste by replacing paper menus with agile tech solutions; pairing diners more effectively with meals they’ll really love; and providing digital access to detailed nutritional information.

What’s next for AI and AR in F&B?

Although it’s early days for these technologies in the food and beverage industry, we expect to see innovative use cases that transform the sector in the coming years. By 2025, three quarters of smartphone users will also be using AR on a regular basis – and F&B will tap into that to enhance the customer experience. 

We’re intrigued by one prediction from Deliveroo: that by 2040, we’ll be able to breathe into an AI device to gain insights into the foods we should be eating to improve our health and meet our body’s specific nutritional needs at any moment in time. Seham AlHusaini (General Manager of Deliveroo Kuwait and Qatar) said in a statement, “From a rise in personalised artificial intelligence to virtual reality dining experiences, mindful eating practices, and more, the future of food has so much in store.”

Whether that becomes a reality or not, it’s clear that eating smarter will be a part of our future.

Register now to attend InFlavour 2024 happening from October 1-3 at Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center (RFECC).