A Dubai restaurant boasting the world’s ‘first AI chef’ has opened and ostentatiously dove into new technology in a city obsessed with the cutting edge of the future.
The Emirates city is becoming increasingly known for its growing foodie scene, with thousands of restaurants ranging from Michelin-starred luxury eateries to greasy spoons serving authentic street food from across the Middle East and Asia.
But the brain behind Woohoo’s menu isn’t a human, but an AI program known as Chef Eyeman, trained on thousands of recipes and decades of culinary research and molecular gastronomy.
The restaurant says Chef Ayman can also optimize the menu and balance flavors.
But the actual task of preparing and serving meals remains in the hands of humans for now.
“Maybe in the future AI will produce better food than humans,” said Turkish co-founder Ahmet Oytun Çakir.
Woohoo’s menu primarily consists of international fusion dishes, but there are also some AI creations.
This includes “dinosaur tartare,” which aims to recreate the taste of extinct reptiles.
The restaurant did not reveal the recipe for the dinosaur tartare, which was created using DNA mapping.
Priced at around 50 euros (about $58), it tastes like a combination of raw meats and is served on a plate that pulses as if it were breathing.
“It was a complete surprise. It was very delicious,” said customer Efe Urgunlu.
At the center of the neon-lit venue, along with AI-generated holograms and sci-fi animations, is a giant cylindrical computer that appears as a digital mainframe that powers the restaurant’s lights and smoke show.
– “can’t believe it” –
Woohoo’s Turkish chef Serhat Karanfilová admitted that after seeing the food and final presentation, he doesn’t necessarily agree with the AI chef’s choices and choices.
“For example, if we taste it and it’s too spicy, we discuss it again with Chef Ayman. After discussion, we find the right balance,” he said.
Cakir hopes Chef Ayman will one day become “the second Gordon Ramsay, but with an AI.”
Not everyone in Dubai’s vibrant food scene is convinced.
Michelin-starred chef Mohammad Orfali said, “There is no such thing as an AI chef.”
“I don’t believe in it,” the Dubai-based Syrian chef told AFP.
His restaurant Orfali Bros was awarded a Michelin star last year, after Dubai became the first Middle Eastern city to join the prestigious guide in 2022.
Orfali explained that cooking requires ‘nafa’ (soul), and used Arabic to express a chef’s personal culinary talent and ability to create exceptional dishes.
“Artificial Intelligence lacks emotion and memory. That means Artificial Intelligence lacks nafas… it cannot imbue food with it.”
– Dubai Ideas –
Orfali said the use of AI at his facility is limited to administrative tasks such as scheduling the kitchen and providing additional research.
“I use it as a kitchen assistant, but ultimately I can’t cook,” he says.
Nevertheless, Woohoo struck a chord with customers accustomed to luxury services in Dubai, a tech-forward megacity with a luxury bent dedicated to AI.
“Here in Dubai, everyone supports these ideas,” Mr Cakir said.
The restaurant has also become a hot topic on social media, with an Instagram account dedicated to AI Chef featuring Chef AIMAN’s avatar in videos sharing tips and recipes.
Dio, a customer who did not want to give his last name, said he visited the restaurant after seeing the popularity of the restaurant.
“It’s such a creative concept that I thought I had to experience it myself,” she said.
“The food was exceptional.”
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