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Taco Bell, Pizza Hut are going “AI first”

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Yum! Brands is taking a significant leap into the realm of technology with plans to introduce “AI-powered” fast food.

  • Yum! Brands, which operates Taco Bell and Pizza Hut among others, is embracing AI technology to power fast-food innovations.

  • With digital sales now comprising 45% of total sales, the company aims to enhance operational efficiency and cut costs amidst California’s new $20 minimum wage law.

  • Their AI initiatives include SuperApp for restaurant managers, featuring generative AI for operational guidance, augmented reality for training, and franchise-funded investments.

The company has been ramping up its investment in technology and automation, with digital sales now accounting for about 45% of its total sales, amounting to approximately $30 billion.

This figure marks a significant increase compared to 2019, where digital sales stood at half the current level, according to Joe Park, Yum’s chief digital and technology manager.

“Our vision of quick-service restaurants is centered around an AI-first mentality that permeates every aspect of our operations,” Park explained to The Wall Street Journal.

“We believe the potential for AI-powered solutions within the restaurant environment is limitless.”

Fast food restaurants are turning to AI

High paid workers

In light of California’s new minimum wage law, which will see most fast-food workers earning $20 per hour, Yum!

Brands, like many other restaurant operators, is turning to AI as a means to reduce costs and drive sales.

The implementation of AI by fast-food giants like Yum goes beyond merely enhancing the customer experience.

Yum has developed a mobile app called SuperApp for restaurant managers, currently being tested with generative AI capabilities.

This feature allows team members to seek operational guidance, such as optimal oven temperatures. Additionally, the app, which is already in use across over 8,700 Pizza Hut and KFC outlets, facilitates ingredient procurement and staff scheduling.

Anew augmented reality feature is in development to aid workers in learning how to prepare new menu items.

Ahron Young is an award winning journalist who has covered major news events around the world. Ahron is the Managing Editor and Founder of TICKER NEWS.

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Meta initiates layoffs, prioritizing AI focus, efficiency

Meta begins layoffs targeting low performers, aiming to trim 5% of workforce for AI investment amidst industry-wide efficiency drive.

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Meta begins layoffs targeting low performers, aiming to trim 5% of workforce for AI investment amidst industry-wide efficiency drive.

In Short

Meta is laying off about 4,000 employees, or 5% of its workforce, as part of a shift towards AI and greater efficiency. This move, part of a broader trend in Big Tech, has raised employee fears about job security and a culture of fear under CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Meta has initiated significant layoffs, impacting thousands as the company pivots towards AI investment and efficiency.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg aims to eliminate around 5% of the workforce, equating to nearly 4,000 employees. This decision aligns with a broader trend among Big Tech firms to streamline operations after extensive hiring during the pandemic.

Reports indicate employee anxiety regarding these changes, with some claiming a culture of fear under Zuckerberg’s leadership. Concerns include the potential reputational damage for employees laid off under performance-based criteria.

Affected workers in the US will receive severance packages, including 16 weeks of pay plus additional compensation based on service length. Nonetheless, some employees fear that innocent parties could face cuts to meet corporate quotas, hindering workplace morale.

The layoff strategy will target employees receiving low performance ratings, with management instructed to identify up to 15% eligible for cuts. Notifications will occur across different time zones to affected employees via email, with access to company systems revoked shortly thereafter.

European employees in specific countries will follow local regulations, which may alter the process.

As part of restructuring, Meta is consolidating teams, particularly merging Facebook and Messenger groups. The Reality Labs division is being realigned with the main business to reverse previous organizational changes.

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Breakthrough app detects sleep issues in the blink of an eye

OptAlert launches free iPhone test for detecting sleep issues, utilising AI to screen for obstructive sleep apnea with high accuracy.

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Optalert launches free iPhone test for detecting sleep issues, utilising AI to screen for obstructive sleep apnea with high accuracy.

In Short

Australian company Optalert has launched a free iPhone app, Owl Eye, that detects sleep issues by analysing users’ blink patterns and screening for obstructive sleep apnea with 96.6% accuracy. The app is currently available in Australia and New Zealand, with plans for wider release.

Australian company Optalert has introduced a free iPhone test for detecting sleep issues.

The app differs from traditional sleep trackers by assessing users while awake, requiring only ten minutes to complete.

It focuses primarily on screening for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and is backed by data from leading Australian sleep laboratories.

An AI-based algorithm, developed from this data, classifies individuals with a remarkable 96.6% accuracy regarding OSA.

Optalert is currently pursuing regulatory certification to operate as a medical device across various regions, including the US, Europe, and China.

The app functions by analysing users’ blink patterns during a concentration task facilitated by the iPhone’s camera, disregarding video content to ensure privacy.

This technology helps identify impairment due to insufficient oxygen during sleep.

Those receiving a positive result can seek further diagnosis and treatment for their sleep issues.

The app, named Owl Eye, is currently available on the Apple App Store in Australia and New Zealand, with plans to expand its reach shortly.

Paul Zubrinich, Chief Marketing Officer of Optalert provides his involvement with the app and shares insights on the technology behind Owl Eye.

In the broader context of sleep technology, the trend indicates increasing accessibility to personal health data previously confined to clinical settings, promising advancements in sleep health.

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World leaders, CEOs gather at Paris AI summit

World leaders and CEOs converge at Paris AI summit to discuss advancements and the future of technology.

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World leaders and CEOs converge at Paris AI summit to discuss advancements and the future of technology.

In Short

World leaders and CEOs met in Paris to discuss the rapid advancements and implications of artificial intelligence. The summit focused on collaboration, ethical guidelines, and strategies to prepare for an AI-driven future.

World leaders and CEOs convened in Paris at an AI summit to discuss the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence.

The event brought together key figures from various sectors to explore the implications of AI technology.

Topics of discussion included the potential benefits of AI, regulatory frameworks, and ethical considerations around its deployment.

Participants highlighted the need for collaboration between governments and the private sector to harness AI responsibly.

The summit aimed to foster dialogue on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI advancements.

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