Dubai's WOOHOO Restaurant to Debut AI Chef 'Aiman' in Futuristic Dining Experience

Dubai to debut restaurant operated by an AI chef

DUBAI, July 10 (Reuters) - In Dubai, your dinner might soon come with a side of source code. WOOHOO, a restaurant that bills itself as "dining in the future", is set to open in September in central Dubai, a stone's throw from the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Food at WOOHOO will be assembled by humans, for now, but everything else - from the menu to ambience to service - will be designed by a culinary large-language-model called "Chef Aiman." Aiman - a portmanteau of "AI" and "man" - is trained on decades of food science research, molecular composition data and over a thousand recipes from cooking traditions around the world, said Ahmet Oytun Cakir, one of WOOHOO's founders. While Chef Aiman can't taste, smell or interact with his dishes like a chef normally would, the model works by breaking cuisine down to its component parts like texture, acidity and umami, and reassembling them into unusual flavour and ingredient combinations, according to Aiman's developers. These prototypes are then refined by human cooks who taste the combinations and provide direction, in an effort led by renowned Dubai-based chef Reif Othman. "Their responses to my suggestions help refine my understanding of what works beyond pure data," Aiman explained, in an interview with the interactive AI model. The goal, Aiman's creators say, is not to supplant the human element of cooking but to complement it. "Human cooking will not be replaced, but we believe (Aiman) will elevate the ideas, creativity," said Oytun Cakir, who is also chief executive of hospitality company Gastronaut. Aiman is designed to develop recipes that re-use ingredients often discarded by restaurants, like meat trimmings or fat, he said. Longer term, WOOHOO's founders believe Aiman could be licensed to restaurants across the globe, reducing kitchen waste and improving sustainability. Reporting by Luke Tyson Editing by Ros Russell Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:Middle East

Dubai to debut restaurant operated by an AI chef - The Economic Times

In Dubai, your dinner might soon come with a side of source code. WOOHOO, a restaurant that bills itself as "dining in the future", is set to open in September in central Dubai, a stone's throw from the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Food at WOOHOO will be assembled by humans, for now, but everything else - from the menu to ambience to service - will be designed by a culinary large-language-model called "Chef Aiman." Aiman - a portmanteau of "AI" and "man" - is trained on decades of food science research, molecular composition data and over a thousand recipes from cooking traditions around the world, said Ahmet Oytun Cakir, one of WOOHOO's founders. While Chef Aiman can't taste, smell or interact with his dishes like a chef normally would, the model works by breaking cuisine down to its component parts like texture, acidity and umami, and reassembling them into unusual flavour and ingredient combinations, according to Aiman's developers. These prototypes are then refined by human cooks who taste the combinations and provide direction, in an effort led by renowned Dubai-based chef Reif Othman. "Their responses to my suggestions help refine my understanding of what works beyond pure data," Aiman explained, in an interview with the interactive AI model. The goal, Aiman's creators say, is not to supplant the human element of cooking but to complement it. "Human cooking will not be replaced, but we believe (Aiman) will elevate the ideas, creativity," said Oytun Cakir, who is also chief executive of hospitality company Gastronaut. Aiman is designed to develop recipes that re-use ingredients often discarded by restaurants, like meat trimmings or fat, he said. Longer term, WOOHOO's founders believe Aiman could be licensed to restaurants across the globe, reducing kitchen waste and improving sustainability.

Dubai restaurant to launch world's first AI chef experience. Curious how it cooks without tasting?

Dubai is set to revolutionize fine dining with WOOHOO, a futuristic restaurant powered by an AI chef named Aiman. Created by Gastronaut Hospitality, Aiman uses decades of food science and global recipes to craft unique dishes. Partnering with chef Reif Othman, the AI enhances creativity, while the restaurant blends cyberpunk aesthetics with sustainable, data-driven culinary innovation. In a world that often debates whether technology is replacing human warmth, Dubai's latest culinary experiment is asking a different question altogether: Can artificial intelligence enhance the soul of cooking? Set to open its doors in September 2025 at Kempinski The Boulevard Hotel, WOOHOO is not your ordinary fine-dining destination. At the heart of this futuristic restaurant will be Chef Aiman -- a non-human culinary genius trained not through taste buds but through data, algorithms, and decades of food science. The AI-powered chef, whose name cleverly fuses "AI" and "man," has been created by Gastronaut Hospitality, the Dubai-based group behind culinary hotspots like Trove and BohoX. WOOHOO, according to a reports, is designed to be more than just a tech novelty. It is a fully integrated high-concept experience, where AI helps shape not just the food but the entire ambiance, service, and even sustainability measures. While Chef Aiman cannot smell a simmering stew or taste the salt on a sushi roll, what it can do is even more astounding. With access to a universe of flavor profiles, global recipes, molecular food composition, and seasonal ingredient databases, Aiman offers combinations even a seasoned chef might not imagine. For example, think of sushi rolls bursting with umami notes, or ceviche balanced so precisely that even a lab technician would nod in approval. But Aiman isn't working alone. Partnering with celebrated Dubai-based chef Reif Othman, the AI receives human feedback to help translate its algorithmic ideas into edible masterpieces. Othman describes the partnership as one of augmentation, not replacement: "Human cooking will not be replaced, but we believe [Aiman] will elevate the ideas, creativity," he told Reuters. Dining at WOOHOO is meant to be a full sensory experience. Guests will not only taste food designed by AI, but do so in a setting that fuses cyberpunk aesthetics with luxury, featuring reactive LED displays and immersive digital art. A secret lounge called "Spock" even simulates a journey through space with mood lighting, soundscapes, and DJ sets -- think dinner on Mars, minus the travel cost. In a particularly bold twist, Aiman also provides real-time suggestions on how to reduce food waste, including ideas for reusing trimmings and optimizing portions. This is where the data shines -- helping not only in flavour construction but in environmental consciousness. WOOHOO's concept is part of a growing wave of AI-led innovation in hospitality. In London, the Standard recently reported on "video waiters" being introduced in restaurants like Masalchi and Gura Gura. Developed by the startup LoveBite, these AI-powered servers let diners watch videos of dishes and interact in multiple languages before ordering -- cutting costs while enhancing the customer experience. The result? Happier customers and a measurable increase in per-table spending. As labour costs rise and customer expectations evolve, restaurants across the globe are embracing AI not just as a cost-saving measure, but as a tool for storytelling, design, and hospitality.

Dubai to debut restaurant operated by an AI chef

In Dubai, your dinner might soon come with a side of source code. WOOHOO, a restaurant that bills itself as "dining in the future," is set to open in September in central Dubai, a stone's throw from the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Food at WOOHOO will be assembled by humans, for now, but everything else - from the menu to ambience to service - will be designed by a culinary large-language-model called "Chef Aiman." Aiman - a portmanteau of "AI" and "man" - is trained on decades of food science research, molecular composition data and over a thousand recipes from cooking traditions around the world, said Ahmet Oytun Cakir, one of WOOHOO's founders. While Chef Aiman can't taste, smell or interact with his dishes like a chef normally would, the model works by breaking cuisine down to its component parts like texture, acidity and umami, and reassembling them into unusual flavor and ingredient combinations, according to Aiman's developers. These prototypes are then refined by human cooks who taste the combinations and provide direction, in an effort led by renowned Dubai-based chef Reif Othman. "Their responses to my suggestions help refine my understanding of what works beyond pure data," Aiman explained, in an interview with the interactive AI model. The goal, Aiman's creators say, is not to supplant the human element of cooking but to complement it. "Human cooking will not be replaced, but we believe (Aiman) will elevate the ideas, creativity," said Oytun Cakir, who is also chief executive of hospitality company Gastronaut. Aiman is designed to develop recipes that re-use ingredients often discarded by restaurants, like meat trimmings or fat, he said. Longer term, WOOHOO's founders believe Aiman could be licensed to restaurants across the globe, reducing kitchen waste and improving sustainability.