Italian smart oven brand UNOX said on the 24th that it has moved to expand the smart kitchen market by putting forward an artificial intelligence (AI)-based cooking solution.
In the dining industry, as labor shortages and rising labor costs persist, interest in cooking automation technology is growing. There is also a rising trend of adopting smart kitchens in which AI and automated equipment handle repetitive cooking processes, while staff focus on store operations and menu development.
Keeping pace with the change, UNOX has equipped its flagship products, CHEFTOP-X and BAKERTOP-X, with the AI-based operating system Digital ID. Digital ID offers functions such as controlling the oven by voice and using a camera to recognize ingredients and automatically start cooking. It also includes features that manage energy usage and incorporate users' cooking data.
A UNOX Korea official said, "AI is not a technology that replaces chefs, but a kitchen partner that helps chefs focus on creative work," adding, "We will continue to introduce solutions that enhance productivity and cooking quality in the dining industry through smart kitchen technology."
UNOX currently operates 47 branches worldwide and counts hotels, restaurants, and bakeries among its main customers. First-quarter sales this year were 79 million euros (about 117 billion won), up 3% from a year earlier. Order intake rose 18% to 90 million euros.