The star of the Beijing Olympics: Robot chefs

Every Olympics, a few heroes separate themselves from the pack for their herculean performances on the sporting world’s biggest stage. At this year’s Beijing games, it is the robot chefs and waiters that are being used to serve the athletes, staff, and members of the media.

China is using the winter games to showcase its ability to innovate. And, with contract tracing apps, drones, and robots, technology is the centerpiece of the host country’s strategy for controlling COVID.

The games are also being used as a testing ground for digital yuan, which allows foreign tourists to pay for things via app or wristband, or convert currency at vending machines.

But the most novel–or perhaps the most Tik Tok-able–introduction is the technology being utilized for food service.

In dining halls across the Olympic bubble’s 25 sites, meals are being prepared, delivered, and cleaned up by robots. Among the “staff” is an artificial intelligence chef that prepares everything from traditional Chinese to Western dishes, a robot that grinds beans to prepare fresh cups of coffee, and another machine that bartends in just 90 seconds.

And while their primary function is helping reduce the spread of COVID, these robots provide the hosts with a number of benefits. For example, they reduce the number of necessary staff, and therefore labor costs.

These robots are giving us a peek at the future of not only the restaurant industry, but hospitality as well. Already, fast casual chains, like SweetGreen, are finding ways to leverage technology to improve the efficiency of their kitchens. And I assume it is only a matter of time before full-service restaurants follow. But, there is also ample opportunity for robots to be utilized for room service, continental breakfasts, or housekeeping.

And while there are few things that I enjoy more than personal recommendations from a personable waiter, I appreciate efforts to use technology to keep restaurants safe and open….and to serve my drink in 90 seconds.

Danilo Diazgranados is an independent investor in the global food and wine, financial services, real estate, and the hospitality sectors.