'Dubai AI chef creates 'Dinosaur tartare' and holograms, sparking both amazement and criticism'

A new dining spot has opened in Dubai, claiming to host the globe's first artificial intelligence chef, reflecting the city's ongoing fascination with futuristic technology. The Emirati metropolis has gained recognition for its expanding culinary landscape, ranging from upscale Michelin-starred restaurants to casual eateries serving authentic Middle Eastern and Asian street food.

At Woohoo, the menu is crafted not by a human, but by an AI system named Chef Aiman, which has been trained on thousands of recipes, decades of culinary research, and molecular gastronomy techniques. The AI can also refine menus and balance flavors according to the restaurant.

Despite this, the actual cooking and serving of dishes remain handled by humans. "AI might surpass human chefs in creating dishes in the future," said Ahmet Oytun Cakir, Woohoo's Turkish co-founder.

The menu mainly features international fusion cuisine, yet some dishes are uniquely AI-inspired, such as the "dinosaur tartare," designed to replicate the flavor of extinct reptiles. The recipe, developed through DNA mapping, is not publicly disclosed. Priced at approximately 50 euros ($58), the dish combines textures of raw meats and is served on a pulsating plate that mimics breathing. Customer Efe Urgunlu described it as "a total surprise" and "so delicious."

The neon-lit restaurant also incorporates AI-generated holograms and sci-fi animations. Its centerpiece is a large cylindrical computer, presented as the digital core controlling lighting and smoke effects.

Turkish chef Serhat Karanfil oversees the kitchen and final presentation, occasionally adjusting the AI's recommendations. "If a dish is too spicy, I discuss it with Chef Aiman to find the right balance," he explained.

Cakir envisions Chef Aiman eventually becoming "the next Gordon Ramsay but in AI form."

However, not everyone in Dubai's culinary scene shares the enthusiasm. Michelin-starred chef Mohamad Orfali is skeptical. "There is no such thing as an AI chef," he said, emphasizing that cooking requires "nafas," an Arabic concept referring to a chefs soul and personal flair. AI lacks emotions and memories, he argued, and cannot infuse dishes with nafas. Orfali uses AI only for administrative tasks like scheduling and research at his Orfali Bros restaurant.

Still, Woohoo has drawn attention in Dubai, a city known for its technological innovations and extravagant lifestyle, where even AI has a dedicated minister. "Everyone is supporting these ideas here in Dubai," Cakir noted.

The restaurant has also generated social media buzz, with an Instagram account showcasing Chef Aimans avatar sharing tips and recipes. Customer Dio commented, "It is such a creative concept, so I had to experience it myself."

Author: Sophia Brooks