In a bold move that encapsulates Dubai's obsession with cutting-edge technology, a new restaurant called Woohoo has unveiled what it claims is the world's first artificial intelligence chef. The AI programme, known as chef Aiman, is trained on thousands of recipes and decades of culinary research, including molecular gastronomy techniques.
The Digital Chef Behind Woohoo's Menu
At the heart of Woohoo's innovative concept lies chef Aiman, an artificial intelligence system that develops the restaurant's entire menu. According to Turkish co-founder Ahmet Oytun Cakir, the AI can optimize menus and balance flavours with unprecedented precision. The system represents the latest ostentatious dive into new technology for Dubai, a city increasingly known for its growing culinary scene that ranges from luxurious Michelin-starred establishments to authentic street food venues.
While the AI creates the recipes, the actual preparation and serving remains in human hands—for now. Chef Serhat Karanfil oversees the cooking and final presentation, admitting he doesn't always agree with the AI's selections. "If I taste it, for example, and it is too spicy, I talk to chef Aiman again. After we discuss, we find the right balance," Karanfil explained.
Dinosaur Tartare and Other AI Creations
Among chef Aiman's most striking creations is a dish called "dinosaur tartare" priced at approximately 50 euros ($58). The restaurant developed this unusual offering using DNA mapping to recreate what extinct reptiles might have tasted like, though they haven't revealed the exact recipe.
The dinosaur tartare delivers a flavour combination resembling raw meats and is served on a pulsating plate designed to appear as if it's breathing. Customer Efe Urgunlu described the experience as "a total surprise. It was so delicious."
The restaurant's futuristic atmosphere complements its high-tech menu, featuring AI-generated holograms, sci-fi animation, and a giant cylindrical computer that serves as the digital mainframe controlling the venue's lights and smoke shows.
Mixed Reactions from Culinary Experts
Not everyone in Dubai's vibrant food scene is convinced by the AI chef concept. Michelin-starred chef Mohamad Orfali, whose Orfali Bros restaurant earned a Michelin star after Dubai became the first Middle Eastern city to join the prestigious guide in 2022, expressed strong skepticism.
"I don't believe in it," the Syrian Dubai-based chef told AFP. "There is no such thing as an AI chef." Orfali represents traditional culinary experts who believe that artificially created food lacks the soul and creativity of human-designed dishes.
Despite this criticism, Woohoo's founders remain optimistic about their digital chef's potential. Cakir has high hopes that chef Aiman could become "the next Gordon Ramsay—but AI," and believes that "AI is going to create better dishes than humans maybe in the future."
The emergence of AI in professional kitchens represents the latest frontier in culinary innovation, continuing Dubai's tradition of embracing futuristic technology across all sectors, including its rapidly expanding food scene.
