Survey: Americans want to try food cooked by robots

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS - Fifty-eight percent of Americans have either eaten food cooked by a robot or would be interested in doing so, the latest example of changing attitudes regarding artificial intelligence outside everyday life, according to results from a national Xcelerant omnibus survey conducted on behalf of Nala Robotics, an AI technology company revolutionizing the culinary industry.

"It's encouraging such wide swaths of Americans are interested in the benefits of culinary automation," said Ajay Sunkara, co-founder and CEO of Arlington Heights-based Nala Robotics. The company will be demonstrating its autonomous robots at this year's National Restaurant Association Show at McCormick Place in Chicago from May 21-24.

"Consumers are realizing that robots improve quality and food safety, while restaurants can increase productivity, lower costs and operate a kitchen anytime, anywhere," Sunkara said.

A majority of survey respondents (60 percent) say food cooked by a robot would be the same or better as a human, according to the survey. Respondents identified several other benefits at restaurants using robot chefs, some tied to pandemic-led safety precautions, others highlighting improvements in preparation and production consistency.