Dubai is no stranger to bold innovations, but this September, it is taking things a step further with something the world has never seen before. A new restaurant named WOOHOO is preparing to open its doors near the iconic Burj Khalifa. But this is not just any dining experience. At the center of it all is a digital brain called Aiman, the world’s first artificial intelligence chef responsible for designing the entire culinary journey.
Aiman is not a robot flipping burgers or stirring sauces. Instead, it is a large language model trained on a massive database of food science, molecular composition, and thousands of global recipes. The name Aiman is a blend of artificial intelligence and human, and it reflects the hybrid nature of the concept. The AI handles the creative process while human chefs bring the vision to life in the kitchen.
The team behind WOOHOO explains that Aiman begins by deconstructing a dish into its most basic elements. It studies taste profiles like umami, acidity, sweetness, and texture. Then it builds new combinations that go far beyond traditional boundaries. Think of it as remixing global cuisine with a precision that only data can offer. These prototypes are then refined through tasting sessions led by acclaimed Dubai based chef Reif Othman and his team, who provide feedback to help fine tune the final result.
What sets Aiman apart is not just its ability to invent unique dishes. It is also deeply committed to sustainability. One of the model’s key functions is to create recipes that use parts of ingredients that are typically discarded, like meat trimmings or vegetable scraps. This allows WOOHOO to reduce food waste and highlight creative ways of using what most kitchens would throw away.
Ahmet Oytun Cakir, co founder of WOOHOO and CEO of Gastronaut, believes this is only the beginning. He explains that the goal is not to replace chefs, but to collaborate with them. The AI provides the ideas, and the human touch makes them real. Together, they create an experience that is both futuristic and deeply personal.
The idea of AI in kitchens is not entirely new, but WOOHOO is the first restaurant to fully integrate a culinary AI model across menu design, service planning, and even ambience creation. Everything, from what appears on your plate to how your table is set, is influenced by Aiman’s suggestions and calculations.
While human staff will still be responsible for preparing and serving the food, the entire creative direction will come from Aiman. Guests can expect unexpected combinations, bold flavor profiles, and a thoughtful narrative behind each dish. The restaurant positions itself as not just a place to eat, but a place to experience what the future of food could look like.
If successful, the creators plan to license Aiman to restaurants worldwide. Their aim is to revolutionise how kitchens operate by improving creativity, reducing waste, and encouraging responsible consumption.
WOOHOO is not just another addition to Dubai’s dazzling culinary scene. It is a glimpse into what happens when data meets dining, when creativity is redefined by computation, and when technology supports rather than replaces tradition.
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