KFC Launches First Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Outlet in Beijing

_{Image via Reuters}If KFC's launch of its newest 'Nashville Chicken' was something that blew you away, make space for this. The fast food chain recently launched its first artificial intelligence-enabled store in the Chinese capital city and plans to further expand its layout of smart restaurants, creating more innovative and interesting dining experiences for its customers.

With the cooperation of Baidu Inc, China's largest search engine, KFC started its first smart restaurant in the Financial Street area in Beijing. At the store, customers are able to take pictures with a machine, which will recognise the diner's face, sex, age, mood and other features, then help to recommend suitable food and set meals and complete the ordering process.

"If the consumer visits the store again and takes a picture with the machine, it will be able to recognise his or her face and show the previous purchase history. It will also be able to remember customer's dining habits, and help place an order faster," Wu Zhongqin, Deputy Director, Institute of Deep Learning, Baidu Inc.With another machine with an augmented reality, or AR function, customers are able to interact with the machine, change facial expressions by shaking their heads in front of the machine, take photos, and save them to their phones.

KFC started its first Chinese smart restaurant in Shanghai in the month of April this year. The outlet is equipped with intelligent robot ordering which introduces the use of artificial intelligence in its chain restaurants, state-run China Daily reported. According to Zhao Li, General Manager, KFC Beijing, smart restaurants are not only about the cool hardware, but more about providing convenience to consumers.

"Our innovations make use of cutting-edge technologies. They will help attract more young consumers who prefer fashionable new things. The digitization of the restaurant will also help provide faster and easier services," she said.

"We believe that the restaurant dining experiences must continue to upgrade. With 5,000 stores in China, we plan to expand such services nationwide to adapt to the digital age and enable more consumers to experience enjoyable ordering experiences," she concluded.