How AI and automation will reshape grocery stores and fast-food chains [Video]

AI isn’t just a hyped innovation in the tech sector; the food industry is also investing heavily in the red-hot trend.

Americans heading to the grocery store or their favorite fast-food restaurant will already have noticed the introduction of the new technology in such services as self-checkout kiosks and even AI ordering in drive-thru lanes.

While U.S. consumers facing continued food inflation hunt for deals and shift their spending habits accordingly, the food industry is working to stay competitive by investing in artificial intelligence to help curb high labor operating costs and reduce prices on some items.

For example, fast-food chains like McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Wendy’s have reintroduced value menus. And big-box retailers Walmart and Target have lowered the price of certain grocery goods.

“It’s very difficult in this environment to engineer great profits, great sales and to keep customers satisfied,” said Neil Saunders, GlobalData’s managing director and retail analyst. “It’s a very difficult equation …

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