Chef Aiman: World’s first AI chef to open restaurant in Dubai

Dubai’s dining landscape is set to embrace a high-tech innovation with the launch of WOOHOO, a restaurant expected to open in September 2025.

The eatery will feature what its founders claim to be the world’s first artificial intelligence-driven chef, placing AI at the center of culinary creativity.

While human staff will still be responsible for assembling dishes initially, the conceptual and operational framework, from menu creation to ambiance and service, will be directed by an AI system named “Chef Aiman.”

The name combines “AI” and “man,” reflecting the hybrid nature of the technology.

According to co-founder Ahmet Oytun Cakir, Chef Aiman has been trained using decades of research in food science, molecular gastronomy, and thousands of recipes from diverse global cuisines. Although the AI model cannot physically taste or smell, it analyzes fundamental culinary elements such as texture, umami, and acidity to generate innovative ingredient pairings and flavor profiles.

These AI-generated concepts are then handed over to a team of human chefs, led by acclaimed Dubai-based chef Reif Othman, who evaluate and refine them. “Their responses to my suggestions help refine my understanding of what works beyond pure data,” Aiman explained during an interview with the interactive AI interface.

Cakir, who also heads the hospitality group Gastronaut, emphasized that the AI is meant to enhance, not replace human creativity in the kitchen.

“Human cooking will not be replaced, but we believe (Aiman) will elevate the ideas, creativity,” he said.

Aiman has also been programmed with sustainability in mind, focusing on reusing often-discarded kitchen scraps like fat and meat trimmings. In the long term, WOOHOO’s founders aim to license the technology to other restaurants globally, potentially reducing food waste and promoting eco-friendly practices in professional kitchens.