Dinner in Dubai may soon feature a taste of the future with innovative recipes crafted by artificial intelligence. The restaurant “Wohoo” proudly claims to be a destination for “dining in the future,” with its grand opening scheduled for September in the heart of Dubai, close to the iconic Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. While human chefs will currently handle the cooking, every other aspect—ranging from the menu to the dining atmosphere and service—will be curated by an AI chef named Ayman, a blend of the terms ‘artificial intelligence’ (AI) and the English word ‘man.’
According to Ahmad Ouyton Jakir, one of the restaurant’s co-founders, Ayman has been trained on decades of culinary research, diving into molecular food data and over a thousand global recipes. Developers of this AI model believe that even though the artificial chef Ayman lacks the ability to taste or smell, he operates by deconstructing cooking methods into their fundamental elements, such as texture, acidity, and flavor. Ayman then reconstructs these elements into unusual combinations of tastes and ingredients.
Human chefs will refine and taste these preliminary recipes, providing feedback to perfect the food creations. Renowned Dubai-based chef Rive Othman oversees this collaborative effort. As Ayman noted in an interview, “Their feedback on my suggestions helps enhance my understanding of what works, beyond mere data.” This partnership illustrates the innovative role of technology in enhancing human capabilities rather than replacing them.
Jakir, who also serves as CEO of Gastronaut Hospitality, emphasizes that human cooking will never be replaced, but they believe that Ayman will elevate creativity and innovation in the culinary landscape. The design of Ayman aims to develop recipes that utilize often-overlooked ingredients, such as meat scraps and fats, advocating for sustainable cooking practices.
The founders of the restaurant envision that, in the future, dining establishments worldwide could potentially acquire licenses to implement Ayman’s technology, significantly reducing kitchen waste and improving sustainability globally. With “Wohoo” set to open its doors soon, the culinary scene in Dubai is preparing for a revolutionary dining experience that merges traditional cuisine with cutting-edge technology.